CSBA Moves to Ensure Villaraigosa Abides By Court Decision

WEST SACRAMENTO – The Education Legal Alliance of the California School Boards Association requested that Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Dzintra Janavs clarify that her recent order, which declares AB 1381 unconstitutional, is made prohibitory, thus remaining in place pending an appeal by
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Judge Janavas promptly issued the clarification, which now prevents AB 1381 from going into effect at anytime during the appeal process.

“We felt it necessary to cover all our bases and go one step further in making sure AB 1381 is not implemented during the appeal process,” said Scott P. Plotkin, Executive Director of CSBA. “Judge Janavs stood by her ruling on this matter and obliged our request. Its really too bad we now find urselves in this protracted court battle simply because other parties are unable to accept the unequivocal ruling of the court, but we will continue to do what is best for California’s students.”

On December 21, 2006, Judge Janavs ruled that Assembly Bill 1381 (Nunez), which transfers governance and operational authority of the Los Angeles Unified School District school board to the district superintendent and a council of mayors controlled by the mayor of Los Angeles, is in direct violation of California’s Constitution.

The mayor of Los Angeles filed an appeal of this decision on December 22.