LAUSD Audit

Analysts from Arthur Andersen & Co. must have been looking over Assemblywoman Betty Karnette’s (D-Long Beach) shoulder if the draft of the Los Angeles Unified School District management audit given to The Times is accurate (May 14). United Teachers-Los Angeles, through Assemblywoman Karnette, introduced AB 1635 over a month ago. Arthur Andersen recommends the elimination of the district’s four regional offices in favor of about two dozen “community clusters” of high schools and their feeder campuses to oversee educational programs.

AB 1635 has almost identical language. In addition, the audit also calls for “streamlining central administration.” So does AB 1635.

In fact, AB 1635 proposes real local control by requiring the Los Angeles Unified School District to spend 95% of all of the dollars at the local school site. It empowers teachers, administrators, classified school personnel and parents to decide how to give their students the best possible education. At the same time, the central school board is maintained but limited to 5% of the available monies.

The audit seems to call for real reform. There is nothing binding on the LAUSD to implement this audit. AB 1635, however, is a vehicle now before the Legislature that would be a giant step in guaranteeing that the intent of the Andersen audit is carried out.

HELEN BERNSTEIN, President, UTLA