State Board OKs 8-Day Cut in L.A. Schools’ Calendar : Education: The action is expected to save the district $3 million to $5 million. Honig is critical of the decision, saying the ‘kids will pay a price for this.’

The State Board of Education agreed Friday to permit the financially strapped Los Angeles Unified School District to shorten the spring semester by eight days to save money.

Los Angeles school officials requested permission to cut 17 of the 180 days of instruction required by state law, with the understanding that the school day would be lengthened so that total class time remains the same.

However, the state board, on an 8-2 vote, granted only the eight-day cut in the spring term, suggesting that Los Angeles officials could come back with another request next May if they need to shorten the fall semester.

Eleanor G. Leo, senior legislative analyst for the school district, said cutting eight days from the spring calendar would save $3 million to $5 million, a boost for a district that has trimmed more than $1 billion from its operating budgets in the last four years.

She said the time would be made up by extending the school day 14 minutes for kindergarten children, 33 minutes for elementary school students and 39 minutes for those in junior and senior high school.

State Supt. of Public Instruction Bill Honig was critical of the move, saying it would be a “massive change in the daily experience of kids.”

“They think the only way they can get by this year is by trimming days,” Honig said, “but kids will pay a price for this.”

Several state board members voted for the shorter year reluctantly.

“I hope this won’t be sending the message that they can do this again,” said board President Joseph Stein. “I think they (Los Angeles board members and administrators) have gotten themselves into a mess by inadequate long-term planning.”

He was evidently referring to salary increases of 8% a year for three years, from 1988-89 to 1991-92, that the Los Angeles school board approved for teachers and other employees.

The State Board of Education action was denounced by Del Weber, president of the California Teachers Assn., who said: “Students and teachers are having a difficult enough time coping with learning in a year when budgets are being cut without being forced to do with fewer days in the classroom.”

Weber said Los Angeles officials should “close administrative offices or find alternative ways of reducing expenditures” instead of closing school for eight days.

But Diana Munatones, spokeswoman for the Los Angeles schools, said the district has been forced to trim $400 million in spending this year.