LOS ANGELES : Suit Threatened Over School Remap

Los Angeles school board members were warned Thursday that a San Fernando Valley-based coalition may sue them if they back a school redistricting plan that critics say would weaken the Valley’s influence on education issues.

The warning was issued by Janet Phillips, president of the 31st District Parent-Teacher-Student Assn., in a letter to the board’s seven members as they prepare to vote Monday on a motion to support a redistricting plan backed by Latino civil rights groups and City Councilman Richard Alatorre.

In her letter, Phillips said her organization would sue to block implementation of the Alatorre plan if adopted by the Los Angeles City Council--and name the board in the litigation if the board supports the plan. The Alatorre plan splits the Valley among four school district seats, only one of which is wholly in the Valley. Now two seats are entirely in the Valley.

The council, which has the sole authority to adopt a remap plan for the school system, deadlocked this week on the redistricting issue.

To help break the impasse, school board member Leticia Quezada on Wednesday introduced a motion to have the board break its long, official silence on the remap matter Monday and recommend council approval of the Alatorre plan.

Phillips also said it was a mistake for the board to take a stand on “such a controversial and emotional issue without proper notice and with no opportunity to schedule public hearings.”