L.A. Teachers Union Feels the Chill From District Fund Freeze : Schools: Leader says superintendent’s plan to reduce $88-million budget shortfall counteracts campus-based control of spending.

Teachers union officials have reacted angrily to a spending freeze on instructional materials imposed by Los Angeles schools Supt. Bill Anton earlier this week to slice $9 million off this year’s $88-million budget shortfall.

Union President Helen Bernstein said the freeze flies in the face of school-based management, the restructuring program aimed at giving campuses more authority over how to spend their money.

“If schools want to buy computers for the kids or anything over and above, they are out of luck,” said Catherine Carey, the spokeswoman for United Teachers-Los Angeles.

Schools that “are being conscientious and trying to include everyone in the decision-making . . . and haven’t yet spent their money are being punished,” Bernstein said Thursday.

District spokeswoman Diana Munatones said the freeze does not single out the purchase of instructional materials but also targets non-classroom jobs and most acquisitions.

“It’s a step we have to take to save money and let people know the severity of the situation,” said Munatones. She said the superintendent “is not lashing out only at (teachers). This is across the board.”

District officials say their supply warehouse stocks a three-month supply of standard items such as crayons, paper, pencils and chalk. Schools, that were able to spend independently up to $23 per student per year for instructional materials, must now have each order approved by a deputy superintendent.

Bernstein contends that schools that have been conscientious about saving money are being punished by the freeze.

In West Los Angeles, Westwood Elementary School fears it may lose $2,800 of unspent money.

“We’re disconsolate,” said Westwood office manager Jane Rahn. “I just sent in a request for $1,500 for essential supplies. Now I have to go to the regional superintendent and request it. Maybe he’ll approve it and maybe he won’t.”

The freeze also affects all unfilled positions outside the classrooms except for bus drivers and school supervision aides. Orders for equipment and service contracts are also frozen. But union leaders say many instructional programs will also suffer.

“If you have a homemaking class, you can’t buy food until May,” Bernstein said. Biology classes may have problems getting special approval to buy such supplies as frogs used in dissection, which are not stocked in the district warehouse, according to Beth Louargand, deputy business manager for the district.

Some teachers fear the freeze will prompt a run on supplies in the district warehouse. But Louargand said that so far, she has not been swamped with orders.

Last year, financial problems led the district to freeze instructional spending for April, May and June. The freeze was enacted earlier this year because the budget shortfall is much greater.

The decision, made by Anton Jan. 28, was discussed with board members but did not require a vote.

School board member Julie Korenstein, who represents the West San Fernando Valley, called it a stopgap measure.

“You don’t start making your cuts by taking away pencils and paper and chalk,” Korenstein said. “We are going to have to start at the top and . . . cut out entire divisions.”