United Teachers Los Angeles urged to sue to stop schools handover

Oct. 16, 2009 | By Adolfo Guzman-Lopez | KPCC
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A law firm hired by the the union that represents Los Angeles Unified School District teachers advised the union to file suit to a policy that would allow outside groups to take over governance of more than 200 school district campuses.

The far-reaching policy, approved by the district's school board two months ago and endorsed by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, would allow charter school operators and other nonprofits to take over newly built and chronically low-performing schools.

After the motion passed, teachers’ union president A.J. Duffy said that the policy violated the California constitution, and that his union would go to court to stop the change. The Los Angeles Times reports that in a confidential memo written two weeks ago, the firm Trygstad, Schwab & Trygstad urged union leaders to take swift legal action on the grounds that the policy violates the teachers’ labor contract and breaks rules related to the administration of newly-built schools.

A UTLA spokeswoman said union officials were not available for comment. If a suit moves forward, it would be the second time an L.A. Unified policy endorsed by Villaraigosa would end up in court.

In 2006, through state legislation, Villaraigosa gained a decision-making role at the independently- governed school district. Months later, an L.A. County Superior Court judge ruled that the changes violated the state constitution and overturned the law.

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