Report on New School OKd Despite Concerns

In a 5-2 vote, the Los Angeles Unified School District board Monday approved environmental documents related to a proposed $85-million high school complex near downtown despite concerns about an oil field under the site.

Richard Baker, regional director of the oil and gas division of the state Department of Conservation, told the board he could not be sure that construction workers would not encounter a danger to public health, such as leaking methane gas.

Consultants heading the district’s effort to turn the site into a unique public-private venture agreed that there are no guarantees. But they insisted that approving the environmental impact report does not preclude taking further precautions during construction of the Belmont Learning Center.