Burbank School Board Upset as Council Rejects Request for School Repair Funds

The long-simmering feud between members of the Burbank City Council and Burbank Unified School District board flared for the second time in two years Tuesday when the council refused to give the school district any of the city’s share of federal funds it sought for classroom improvements.

At issue was the more than $1.6 million the city expects to get in federal Community Development Block Grant money. Of that amount, the school district asked for $773,167 to improve two schools in low-income areas.

Cities have the option of giving some or all of their block-grant money to nonprofit organizations or agencies whose clients include low- to moderate-income people. Burbank school officials believe they are entitled to some of the funds.

But the city holds the purse strings, and the council, at its regular Tuesday night meeting, decided that the funds would be better spent on city projects.

Charges, Countercharges

That decision sparked angry charges and countercharges, most of which were made outside the council chambers after the meeting.

After the council’s unanimous vote to spend the funds on such projects as alley paving and recreational facilities, two school board members stalked out and told reporters that the council has its priorities mixed up.

“I feel disappointed, angry and frustrated,” school board President William S. Abbey said. “They should have a greater appreciation for what our needs are. We were just asking them to take another look” at the district’s proposal.

And board member Audrey Hanson confronted Councilwoman Mary E. Kelsey after the meeting, telling her she resented the city’s “insensitivity” toward the district. Hanson also attempted to confront City Manager Bud Ovrom, who strode away from her in stony silence after saying to Abbey, standing nearby, “Tell her about the case between honey and vinegar.”

‘Not My Responsibility’

Council members criticized the school board for expecting the city to help it solve its problems.

“Where are their priorities?” asked Councilman Michael R. Hastings. “I agree that children are our most valuable asset, but it’s not my elected responsibility to take care of schools. The district has a Taj Mahal-style administration building with all the air conditioning and luxuries, but they also have rotting windows in their schools. Then they always come back and make us feel guilty for not bailing them out.”

Tuesday’s vote--and subsequent accusations--signaled a replay of sorts of last year’s council-school board fight over allocation of an earlier grant.

School officials implied then that the council cared more about the repair of restrooms than classrooms. The district had asked for $2.8 million in federal funds for school improvements but was only alloted $70,000 at first. The council allotted $100,000 for restroom repair at its troubled Golden Mall shopping area.

The district eventually received $144,000 from the city.

Recommendation Followed

But this year, city Community Development Department staff members and a citizens committee appointed by the council to evaluate scores of requests for a share of the funds recommended that none be given to the school district for facilities improvements. All the district got was $71,000 for a youth summer jobs program started by the city but later turned over to the district.

In fact, the city kept all but about $129,000 of the $1.6 million. Most of the money will be spent for housing and public works projects, including alley paving, replacement of the Verdugo Gym roof and remodeling and expansion of the Joslyn Center for senior citizens.

Ovrom said the city is required to spend the funds on housing or related community development. He said the other projects are only allowed to the extent that they affect housing in low- to moderate-income areas.

No other agencies turned down Tuesday complained publicly.

The district wanted money to replace and repair windows at McKinley Elementary School, modernize the electrical system to allow for air conditioning and equip Miller Elementary School with heating and air conditioning.

Unable to Judge

Ovrom said city officials followed the citizens committee recommendation on giving no funds to the school district because city staff members did not know enough about the school facilities to make a judgment.

Hanson said after the meeting, “All anybody had to do was pick up the phone and ask us,” about the facilities. “How hard could that have been?”

The council did agree to authorize Community Development Director Larry J. Kosmont to investigate ways to assist the district through redevelopment funds.