Back to School : Schools Face Mix of New Programs, Old Problems

As school bells beckon new and returning students to class today in the Los Angeles city school district, the 1995-96 school year opens with a mixture of new programs and lingering old problems.

While Los Angeles Unified School District officials say they want to refocus on their main mission of educating students, the district also must contend with a growing movement aimed at dismantling the nation’s second-largest school system.

The Board of Education expects to develop a policy in the coming weeks on breakup proposals, but district officials and board members both say the issue will be somewhat distracting this year.

Nonetheless, others say the school year already begins on a more positive note: The teachers and the district have reached tentative approval on a new contract, calling for a 3% raise this year. By opening school with an agreement, the district’s traditional labor unrest is eased.

The district also opens its doors this year with some extra cash--$31 million--that the school board will ultimately decide how to spend. Teachers and others are hoping the money will be used solely to improve classroom learning.

Other new programs and policies in schools--both in the school district and in colleges and universities--this year include:

* Birmingham High School in Van Nuys begins an international baccalaureate program, leading to a special degree with specialized courses;

* More than 100 schools will begin the district’s LEARN reform program, offering parents, staff and students more decision-making power;

* The district is working on a new testing program, but most students will take the state’s basic skills exam this year;

* The district’s teaching force will include about 1,000 new teachers. So far, the school system has hired nearly 900 new teachers, but recruiting and hiring continues throughout the year.

* The district formally begins its effort to improve math and science instruction. Using a $15-million grant from the National Science Foundation, teachers will be given extensive training and about 100 schools will begin the program;

* Cal State Northridge students are getting wired to the Internet like never before. For the first time, the university is requiring computer word processing and e-mail training in all freshmen English classes. Also, about 40 courses university-wide are incorporating World Wide Web resources;

* Elsewhere at Northridge, changes are afoot in the campus’ business programs. University officials have reduced the course requirements in their MBA program from 60 to 48 units. And, CSUN is launching a satellite undergraduate business program at Santa Monica College;

* Mission College in Sylmar has had a major shake-up. In administration, Vice President David Ching has moved on, with Shari Borchetta taking over as director. In academic affairs, Vice President Paul McKenna also has departed, with Dean Carlie Tronto filling in on an acting basis;

* Also at Mission, the campus is phasing out its electronics program, with the courses gradually shifting to neighboring Valley and Pierce colleges. Officials in the Los Angeles Community College District continue to talk about consolidating duplicative programs among the three campuses;

* Antelope Valley College in Lancaster is about to begin a search for a new president to replace Allan Kurki, who announced in the spring that he plans to retire in August, 1996. Kurki, who will complete his 10th year in the job, helped launch plans for a satellite campus in Palmdale;

* And, the college also has opened a $1.4-million child development center designed to provide day care for young children of college students, faculty and staff, and community members. The center will double as a training ground for the college’s early childhood education students.