Mayor Bloomberg and teachers union boss Randi Weingarten are going head-to-head again — this time in a high-stakes, bitter national fight over school reform in Los Angeles.
Weingarten, the former city teachers union head who is now president of the American Federation of Teachers, blasted billionaire Bloomberg for donating $1 million to help elect a slate of school-board candidates in LA committed to accountability measures opposed by the union.
Weingarten accused Bloomberg and other big corporate donors of “trying to buy the LAUSD board.”
“Mayor Bloomberg has lost the support of public school parents in NY. Now he wants to take his flawed approach in LA,” tweeted Weingarten.
Weingarten is backing the Los Angeles teachers union’s slate of candidates against the one backed by Bloomberg. The election will be held on March 5 and union officials vowed to have “boots on the ground” to counter “bully” Bloomberg.
Bloomberg’s camp defended his contribution.
“Teachers unions have spent millions in Los Angeles and tens of millions around the nation to oppose reform and defend the failed status quo,” said Deputy Mayor Howard Wolfson.
“Mike Bloomberg is proud to help level the playing field on behalf of children and their families. The union may not like it, but they should get used to it because he is just getting started.”
As in New York, the union and LA school chief John Deasy are battling over a new teacher-evaluation program that for the first time will use student results on standardized tests to help grade teachers.
Bloomberg has been unable to secure an agreement with the city teachers union on a new evaluation plan here.