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SACRAMENTO — A hotly debated bill that would let teacher contract negotiations include textbook and curriculum selection stalled Wednesday night in an Assembly committee. 

The bill, backed by teachers’ unions and opposed by groups representing school boards and administrators, initially fell two votes short of the bare majority needed to pass the 15-member Education Committee. 

But the committee delayed finalizing the vote to give the measure’s supporters time to try to round up additional support as the hearing continued on other legislation. 

Supporters said the bill would give teachers and parents a greater role in determining how schools operate. 

“Teachers care passionately about the success of the students they teach,” said Beverly Tucker, chief counsel for the California Teachers Association. “They are closest to students. They should be equal partners with school boards and parents.” 

But opponents said curriculum issues should not be tossed into contract negotiations. 

“Collective bargaining is a drawn out, expensive process,” said Alfonso Anaya, president of the California Latino Superintendents Association. “Education reform measures do not belong in the collective bargaining process.” 

To ease opposition to the bill, author Jackie Goldberg, D-Los Angeles, amended it to give schools two options. The schools could discuss curriculum issues in public collective bargaining sessions, or they could form “academic partnerships” — groups comprised of teachers, parents and school officials — to try to reach agreements. 

If an academic partnership failed to reach a consensus after three months, unresolved issues could be taken to the bargaining table — but those discussions also would have to be public. 

Opponents said even with the amendments, the bill would continue to shift decision-making authority to union representatives who are not held accountable for student performance. 

“You are wrong if you think this bill does not give leverage to unions to take education issues and use them as leverage in (negotiations over) salaries and working conditions,” said Kenneth Hall, a lobbyist for the California Association of School Business Officials. 

The bill comes as educators and politicians struggle with issues of accountability in public education and the increasing use of standardized testing. Gov. Gray Davis said recently he will not sign the bill without significant changes. 

That has angered leaders of the CTA, which is already at odds with some of Davis’ education initiatives, such as accountability and standardized testing, said association president Wayne Johnson. 

The rift comes during an election year in which Davis could use the support of the traditionally Democratic union. The CTA gave Davis about $2 million for his 1998 campaign but has only given him about $62,000 for his re-election bid against Republican Bill Simon. 

“Some of our members are not all that happy with Governor Davis the last three-and-a-half years,” said Johnson. “There has been some pressure to cut back on the large donations, but I suspect that down the road between now and (November) that the CTA will make contributions.” 

Goldberg said bill opponents have twisted its intent. Elected boards will still make the decisions, but teachers will have a greater say in the process, she says.