Shift in L.A. School Resources Urged : Education: Board member Horton’s plan would direct more personnel and funds to classrooms. But he says it would ease the budget crunch only slightly.

Trying to “show the employees that the classroom is really the first among equals,” Los Angeles Board of Education member Jeff Horton on Thursday proposed ways to help the state’s biggest school district out of its mounting budget problems.

But at a news conference to “get the proposals on the table,” Horton acknowledged that most of the ideas were not new and would go only a short way toward balancing the district’s budget for the next school year. Because of a deepening financial crisis in the state, which provides most of school districts’ operating funds, Los Angeles officials expect to have to cut at least $400 million, despite an expected 15,000-student increase in enrollment.

Horton was promptly and sharply criticized by a colleague for not first airing his proposals at a board meeting.

Horton proposed the following measures for a one-year period:

* Close down regional offices which oversee elementary schools, middle schools and senior high schools.

* Require all coordinators--teachers who oversee special programs--to return to the classroom for at least half the time.

* Require all assistant principals to teach the equivalent of one day a week.

* Eliminate all additional paid days for special projects or needs.

* Eliminate all centrally budgeted staff development funds and jobs.

* Eliminate teacher and other advisers, except those needed to ensure district compliance with state and federal requirements.

In addition, Horton urged the board to implement a policy, approved in 1989 but never brought to fruition, that would overhaul salary scales to lessen the gaps between employees who work on a school campus and those who are assigned jobs downtown or in regional offices. Horton estimated that his one-year measures would save $10 million to $15 million.

Helen Bernstein, president of United Teachers-Los Angeles, which had advocated similar measures at least two years ago, praised Horton for making “a good beginning” but said the proposals do not go far enough. UTLA is working on its own cost-cutting proposals and will offer them in about two weeks, she said.

“I want (board members and budget officials) to reorient their thinking to reflect the crisis that we are in,” said Bernstein, who has repeatedly argued that the district remedies to date have not made the classroom a priority. “I’m looking for someone who wants to throw away the book and start all over again, at least until this economy turns around.”

Horton said his proposals would take away valuable services and would not head off salary cuts already proposed. But he said they “would show good faith to our employees, parents, students and the community” that the board is committed to making tough choices in order to put the “classroom and the school site as a first priority.” He said he felt it important to get the ideas out before a board budget meeting on Monday.

But board member Barbara Boudreaux lashed out at Horton, accusing him of grandstanding and “playing politics” by holding his news conference only a few hours after providing district officials and other board members with copies of his ideas.

She also denounced most of the proposals, particularly the cuts in administration, which she said would amount to “a direct assault on minority administrators” because of their large numbers in the offices that would be affected.

Since 1988-89, board members have cut more than $800 million, nearly one-fourth of the district’s $3.9-billion annual operating budget. Board members are considering proposals by Supt. Bill Anton to shorten the school year and further cut employee compensation in addition to reducing educational programs and administration.