L.A. School Board Opts for General Policy Statement

Beset by looming budget troubles and deep political and philosophical differences, the Los Angeles Board of Education on Tuesday scrapped a detailed proposal for setting school district priorities in favor of a general statement of goals.

After weeks of discussion, capped by a sometimes-vitriolic debate Tuesday night, the board voted 5 to 1 to adopt four general policy statements.

The board also directed Supt. Leonard O. Britton to develop a proposed action plan and time frame, including ways to measure progress.

The goals are:

* Improve the quality of the instructional program and support services to all students.

* Support efforts to reorganize schools so teachers, students and parents have more authority in how they are run.

* Provide in a fair manner adequate classroom space and other facilities for all students.

* Adopt a balanced budget consistent with the goals.

The board’s statement was a far cry from the long lists of specific projects and goals that the panel began the evening with.

“This just doesn’t say anything,” said angry board member Leticia Quezada, who had pushed the board to be specific in hopes of providing direction to staff members in drawing up a budget.

Just before casting the lone no vote, she said the board’s opting instead for a general statement was done “out of a lack of an ability to do something better.”

But other board members complained that the process was confusing and, in the face of an expected budget crunch of as much of $200 million in the next fiscal year, pointless.

“This is really a make-you-crazy process,” said board member Rita Walters, adding that district budget writers are unlikely to have funds for most of the projects on the long list.

Board member Warren Furutani, after a lengthy debate with fellow member Julie Korenstein, summed up the confusion over the specific lists.

“If I know what’s going on, then Julie doesn’t,” Furutani said, “and if Julie knows, I don’t.”