L.A. Schools Seek Out New ‘Partners’ : Other Agencies Approached on Solution to Classroom Shortage

Local tradition has dictated that the Los Angeles Unified School District and the City of Los Angeles go their separate ways in pursuing their political goals. When the paths of the two agencies crossed, it was only for polite consultation.

But the school district wants to change all of that and has embarked on a campaign to enlist the help of other local agencies in providing enough classroom space for the region’s fast-growing student population.

The district estimates it will have 635,000 students under 18 in 1990. Most of those, largely immigrants, are coming from East Los Angeles, the southeastern part of the school district and central Los Angeles.

To handle the influx, the district has launched a major construction program, discussed reopening some of the 22 schools it closed because of low enrollment and considered placing the entire school system on a year-round schedule.

Even if all of these plans were put into action, the district says it will still not be able to accommodate the influx and may be short space for 55,000 students--equivalent to a capacity crowd at Dodger Stadium.

“I’m convinced that we are not going to be able to solve this problem by using traditional solutions to housing problems,” said district Supt. Harry Handler.

Seeking Joint Ventures

So, the district is looking for joint ventures with other governmental agencies, creative financing deals, lease-back agreements and the possibility of becoming more of a force in policy decisions that could have an impact on the demand for classroom space. These types of action go far beyond the district’s previous political activities, which consisted mainly of lobbying in Sacramento and Washington.

The district’s new policy direction is best symbolized by a motion under consideration that would ask the Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency to financially help schools in and around redevelopment areas.

The board is asking the CRA to expand current redevelopment areas to include schools such as 9th Street School in Skid Row and Belmont High School, which is in the western shadows of the Bunker Hill complex. If approved by the CRA and the City Council, these schools would be eligible to share in tax increment money that is available under redevelopment. Board members say they would use the funds to build more classrooms and possibly new schools.

This proposal also calls for the CRA to include schools in proposed redevelopment areas, such as the one being discussed for Hollywood. If schools were declared “blighted,” the district could receive redevelopment money for rehabilitation, expansion of existing schools and possibly construction of new schools.

“The overcrowding issue has been the catalyst of this new wave of attempting to establish a relationship between the school district and the city,” said Larry Gonzalez, board member and author of the proposal. “We can no longer operate in a vacuum. We can no longer afford not to work together for the benefit of young people in this city.”

There is, however, some skepticism on the part of the CRA officials on how much help they can actually offer.

“The schools have got a whole strategy to get other agencies involved in their problems and you can’t blame them for that. They’re just trying to take care of business,” said Raul Escovedo, deputy administrator of the Los Angeles CRA. “But we’re all strapped for cash and while it may sound easy from their point of view to go somewhere else to find help, it may not be easy from the other side to offer them help.”

Other Members

Other board members have also introduced motions aimed at getting the city to pay attention to the problems of overcrowded schools. Earlier this year, for example, Jackie Goldberg led a fight against construction of two large apartment complexes in the Silverlake area. According to Goldberg, the apartments would have been built in areas where the schools are already overcrowded.

The board supported the Goldberg motion and the city subsequently upheld a moratorium on construction that conflicts with the community plan for the Silverlake-Echo Park area.

Last week, when it appeared that the city was about to take a second look at approving the two apartment developments, Goldberg introduced another motion asking the board to reaffirm its request that the city continue the moratorium.

The board approved Goldberg’s motion and supported her additional proposal that, if the city gives the go-ahead to the two developments, it tack on additional fees to the permit process. The money would go to provide bungalows at neighborhood schools. The city has yet to take action on the development proposals.

‘Not Zero-Growth’

“I’m not a zero-growth person. People need housing,” said Goldberg. “But I believe that when the city is going to allow development of low- and moderate-income housing in densly populated areas, where the schools are already overcrowded, then somebody should help with the cost of construction of classrooms.”

The district has also launched a public relations campaign to make local legislators aware of its problem. Last week Handler met with the aides of City Council members and state legislators. The group saw a 30-minute slide show on the district’s classroom shortage problem and listened to Handler talk about the district’s problems. He is also planning to personally meet with Los Angeles City Council members and with legislators in Sacramento.

“I’m not asking for anything,” Handler told the gathering of political aides. “Money alone is not going to fully address the problem.”