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Butting Heads Again...mayor Villaraigosa and Los Angeles Public Schools

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and the Loschildren, Villaraigosa has been very vocal
Angeles schools have had several run-ins overabout what he sees as jumping through too
the past couple of years. Villaraigosa hasmany hoops. He has publicly accused the Los
been trying to gain control over the LosAngeles schools of rejecting outside help,
Angeles schools through both the legislaturesaying that the extensive procedures are more
and the courts. Thus far, his efforts haveproof that the Los Angeles schools impede
been only marginally successful, having beeneven the best intentions. In his frustration,
given some control at the end of last summer.the mayor has said they are doing everything
possible to refuse his assistance with Zoner.
This latest drama has at its center a high
school student called Zoner. This creativeSantee Principal Vince Carbino and his
lad, who attends Santee High School,supervisors at the Los Angeles schools, said
decorated a bus with graffiti in early Marchthe mayor must follow the same process as all
of this year. Unfortunately for Zoner, thethe other mentor applicants. Carbino further
mayor and Los Angeles schools Superintendentstated that it is his responsibility to deal
David  Brewer  were  riding  on  the  bus.with Zoner by assisting him with any
problems, educating him and focusing on
Villaraigosa's solution to the situation wasbehavioral change in order to ensure the teen
that the boy needed mentoring - hisgraduates and is successful in life. It also
mentoring. The mayor proceeded to apply tois his responsibility to ensure the safety of
the Los Angeles schools as a mentor forall students in every area of their school
Zoner.life, including mentors. What Villaraigosa
sees as politics, Carbino sees as simply
The Los Angeles schools has a set procedureprotecting  his  students.
for potential mentors. They must first
complete a one-page application. Then, theyAdditionally, Carbino stated that before the
must submit to a tuberculosis test andLos Angeles schools can approve the mayor as
fingerprinting. Finally, they are intervieweda mentor to Zoner, the boy must first work
by the principal at the school in which theywith the school's psychiatric social worker
wish to mentor. The entire process can takefor several weeks. Then, the student and his
up  to  a  month  to  complete.family would decide if they want
Villaraigosa's mentoring. He just cannot
There currently are 2,000 mentors within theinsinuate himself into Zoner's life without
Los Angeles schools, offering a diverseregard to the boy's feelings or his family's
background and experience to the students.wishes.
Santee High School already has 40-50 mentors
on campus at any given week. Movie stars andLos Angeles schools' director of School
celebrities give drama and dance lessons.Volunteer Program is Susan Snelgrove. She has
Financial gurus teach students aboutoffered to fast track the mayor's
financial planning and business. Healthapplication, but she was adamant that he must
professionals focus on nutrition and fitness.follow  the same procedures as everyone else.
They have all followed the mentor application
process  with  very  little  complaint.What do Zoner's classmates think about the
whole drama? They were not too thrilled about
Though it is obvious that the procedures havethe mayor interfering with a student.
been created for the protection of the



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