School Consultant’s Dual Role Raises Some Eyebrows : Education: Hired to promote image of L.A. schools, he also is a volunteer in campaign to dismantle the district.

A public relations consultant hired five months ago by the Los Angeles school district to promote the image of city schools is also a volunteer for a San Fernando Valley group seeking to dismantle the district because of its problems.

Bill Borellis, who owns a consulting firm, is providing key assistance to a fledgling campaign to dismantle the Los Angeles Unified School District, sponsored by the San Fernando Valley’s United Chambers of Commerce.

This week, Borellis provided the Valley business group with school enrollment, busing and other district information considered essential for creation of plans for separate Valley school districts. He also introduced the group to a lawyer and a public policy consultant, who are both seeking work in the breakup campaign.

“I don’t see a conflict,” said Borellis, who is paid nearly $28 an hour by the district to tout the programs and achievements of city schools to members of the Los Angeles business community.

But Borellis’ dual role is raising concerns.

“It certainly seems he has a conflict of interest,” said United Teachers-Los Angeles President Helen Bernstein. “It’s weird, but nothing surprises me.”

School district officials defend his right to work as a volunteer for the Valley group, even though it is seeking to dismantle the district.

They say Borellis’ work for the district is aimed at persuading Valley business people to donate time and money to public schools.

“His job [with the district] is to provide information to individuals and groups in the Valley and that’s it,” district spokesman Bill Rivera said.

Borellis is also entitled to provide information--which comes from public records--to opposition groups in his free time, Rivera said. “He’s a citizen--he doesn’t give up his rights when he comes to work for the district.”

Board of Education President Mark Slavkin conceded that there is little the district can do to limit Borellis’ involvement in the breakup campaign.

“We wouldn’t want to see district employees spending their days planning breakup campaigns,” he said. “But what they do on their own time is their business.”

The school board will meet in the next few weeks to determine the board’s policy on the breakup movements emerging in the Valley, South-Central Los Angeles and Southeast Los Angeles. “We’ll expect district employees on district time” to promote that policy, Slavkin said.

Borellis works for the district’s communications director. His job description--which calls for him to work no more than 79 hours a month--requires him to help forge “a better understanding” of district policies and procedures among the public and improve community relations.

He was hired in March by Rivera, who said he was impressed with Borellis’ experience as a trustee in the district’s LEARN reform program and as chairman of the Woodland Hills Chamber of Commerce’s education committee. Borellis owns an insurance consulting firm and lives in Sherman Oaks.