SOUTHLAND : Beverly Hills Attendance Drops

Attendance plummeted at Beverly Hills schools today as a teachers’ strike against the elite district entered its second day with no sign of a settlement.

Students gathered for a brief morning rally outside Beverly Hills High School, shouting “Scabs, go home!” and “We want our teachers!” One student held up a sign that said “Students Can’t Achieve With Bums.” Beverly Hills police officers were evident at the rally, but there were no incidents.

Beverly Hills Unified Supt. Robert L. French estimated that about 125 students walked out of class, but students and other observers said the number was closer to 200.

Only a small number of students appeared to return to class.

“Everyone is at Disneyland today,” Doron Barness, 15, said. “I wanted to go, but I decided to support my teachers instead.”

Rady Rahban, 16, said his substitute teacher brought a VCR and television to class and showed basketball “bloopers.”

French said enrollment districtwide had dropped from 80% Monday to 53% this morning. Attendance was lowest at Beverly Hills High--42%--while attendance at the district’s four elementary schools was 62%, French said.

The district has a total of 4,700 students, with 2,029 at the high school.