Year-Round School Is Not So Popular : Coaches Fear Ruling Will Invite Defections

Darryl Stroh reasons that school board officials might just as well have opened the gates to Valley high schools and chased students to the nearest private schools.

As far as Stroh is concerned, the board’s decision to adopt a year-round program is an open invitation for mass defection.

“It’s another reason for the kids to get out of L. A. schools,” the Granada Hills High football and baseball coach said. “It’s devastating. We can’t afford to lose any more good kids. Parents with money can send their kids to private schools, not this year-round circus.”

Many Valley coaches shared Stroh’s viewpoint--but not his vehemence--in reaction to Monday’s 4-3 vote to place the 618 schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District on year-round operation beginning in July, 1989. The move comes in response to overcrowded conditions, particularly among downtown-area schools.

A year-round schedule eases crowding by alternating groups of students on the campus throughout the year. Students attend school the same amount of time as their regular-school counterparts but vacations are interspersed throughout the year.

Four district high schools--Bell, Belmont, Huntington Park and South Gate--have used a year-round schedule since 1980. Athletic schedules remain unchanged and students who take vacations during a sport season are permitted to participate.

Belmont Principal Marta Labat Binn said she understood resistance to year-round schedules but insisted they are of benefit to students.

“People hear they may not have their vacations in the summer and they are afraid of the unknown,” she said. “But the program helps students because it allows them to come to extracurricular activities all year long if they want,” she said. “Our athletic schedules haven’t changed and we have the same level of participation. It hasn’t affected us. We win as many games and lose as many as before.”

Valley coaches seem unconvinced, fearing loss of athletes to private schools and outside interests.

“I am convinced we’re going to lose good community kids,” Stroh said. “We’re going to see kids going to Alemany, Crespi, Chaminade and Notre Dame. I have friends who have told me they’re going to do that.”

Taft basketball Coach Jim Woodard agreed, saying, “I wouldn’t be at all surprised if kids in the Valley went to private schools. That’s unfortunate because I believe in the public school system.”

Birmingham baseball Coach Wayne Sink worries about losing players whose vacations coincide with baseball season.

“What about the kid who is on vacation and wants to play a sport? They have to sit around all day and then go to practice,” he said. “Will it be worth it? He could have a job or go on vacation. There are other things to do beside stick around all day and go to practice in the afternoon.”

Even if players on vacation participate, the quality of their play will suffer, Stroh fears.

“They’re out all day running around, maybe getting into trouble, and you’re not going to have a quality practice. I know young people. It’s not going to be the same. You won’t have the same attention, the same dedication. The kids are out of the controlled environment that you’d like to have,” he said.

The situation might be exacerbated in Valley schools that include students bused from other parts of the city, Woodard said.

“They haven’t done year-round schools where kids come in from all over,” he said. “What about the kids who are on vacation and come to games and there are fights. How are you going to control them? There are a lot of little things that they haven’t foreseen.”

Still, many coaches are reserving judgment. Some even voiced skepticism about the program’s implementation.

“We’ve all grown up with the semester system, and I just won’t know if this is good or bad until I see how it works,” Chatsworth baseball Coach Bob Lofrano said.

That wait could be longer than people expect, some coaches said.

“The 4-3 vote shows the board isn’t real sure about it,” Reseda football Coach Joel Schaeffer said. “I think the public will get that swing vote going the other way. I don’t think you’re going to see year-round schools for quite a while.”

Said Poly baseball Coach Jerry Cord: “You don’t get too excited in this district until you see things happen. The City can’t even agree on releaguing. I’ll believe the year-round program when I see it.”