Counselors Pay for Themselves

Sixty thousand children are expected to skip school today in the Los Angeles Unified School District. If these youngsters routinely miss classes without excuse, an attendance counselor will be assigned to look into the chronic absenteeism and get the students back into school. These persistent men and women perform a tough and admirable service. But 10 attendance counselors may lose their jobs next semester, with a lack of funding again the problem.

Cutting 10 attendance counselors in February will allow the district to avoid spending about $300,000 in salaries and benefits. That is money the district simply doesn’t have in the wake of its recent--and deep--budget cuts.

Individual schools paid for these counselors in past years from federal funds earmarked to help poor students or from state funds allocated for integration, year-round and special improvement programs. When these discretionary funds began to run out, the schools were forced to make tough choices, such as using district funds to pay for counselors. Reliance on those scarce funds resulted in the district cutting 14 counselors before the start of this school year.

The counselors perform a valuable service. They make home visits, often in very tough neighborhoods, and tackle what they find. Sick parents, drug-abusing mothers and unemployed fathers are persuaded to send their children to school. Immigrant parents are taught that their children can attend public schools without charge. Youngsters ashamed of their dirty clothes or lack of a hair cut are encouraged to do what they can for themselves and let nothing stop them from getting an education.

The district also benefits because the state pays roughly $3,035 per child based on average daily enrollment.

The 10 counselors who are in jeopardy could get a reprieve. School Supt. Bill Anton and some members of the Board of Education, which has the final say on the fate of the counselors, are trying to save the positions.

Corporate benefactors should also consider helping out. It surely would be cheaper than training undereducated men and women after they are in the labor market.