How to Improve L.A. Schools : Three Times’ endorsements for Tuesday’s citywide election

The troubled Los Angeles School Board faces severe challenges that handicap its mission to provide a quality education for the more than 600,000 children who attend public schools. Insufficient public financing is the most obvious concern, of course, but it is not the only pressing problem that board members must tackle as they determine public policy and set priorities for the huge district.

PROBLEMS: Improving academic achievement for all students must be the overriding focus of the board. To raise the frequently low scores that indicate failure for too many children, the new board must develop a consensus on a very limited number of achievable goals. All decisions must flow from what is needed to boost achievement.

Reducing overcrowding also must remain a priority. A universal year-round calendar is a necessary and equitable remedy for now. But the board ultimately must find the money--and the land--to build more schools in crowded areas.

Addressing diversity is also of paramount importance. The district’s overall enrollment is already 64% Latino--and that figure is expected to increase, with educational and political repercussions for the entire district.

ENDORSEMENTS: On Tuesday, registered Los Angeles voters will decide four of seven seats on the powerful Board of Education. The Times does not routinely endorse in all races, but in this election chooses to share with its readers its preferences in three of those contests:

District 1:

Board member Rita Walters has chosen not to run again to represent District 1, which covers much of South-Central Los Angeles. In this district her replacement will need to be an especially strong advocate for black children, and of the full integration of Latino children and staff at schools in the increasingly Latino district. To this end, The Times recommends Sterling Delone, an aide to another departing board member, Jackie Goldberg.

Delone, a knowledgeable and passionate educator, makes the effort to seek specific remedies to the toughest problems that ail the district.

District 3.

Five of the seven board districts contain a majority of Latino students. The second highest concentration is in District 3, which covers the Mid-Wilshire district and Hollywood. The energetic incumbent, Jackie Goldberg, has chosen not to seek reelection. We recommend her former aide, teacher Jeff Horton.

District 5:

Board Member Leticia Quezada represents District 5, which has the highest Latino concentration. She is an effective advocate for Latino and other children but combines a shrewd and knowing mix of principle and pragmatism when facing the need for budget cuts. She merits a return to the board.