Class-Size Reduction Could Get More Money

Continuing his crusade to reduce the size of classes in California’s public schools, Gov. Pete Wilson is expected to announce next week that he will seek funds to add a fourth elementary school year to the popular program.

Senior administration officials confirmed Friday that Wilson is reviewing state revenues in preparation for proposing a budget Jan. 9, with an eye toward supplementing the $1 billion now set aside to bring class size down by about a third, to 20 students.

After legislative approval of the governor’s proposal in July, schools were offered subsidies to reduce three of the four initial years of school: first and second grades, plus either kindergarten or third grade. About 95% of the state’s districts are participating at some level.

Privately, state officials said funding smaller classes in all four grades is the leading budget option among several being considered. An announcement is expected during Wilson’s visit to a Long Beach elementary school Thursday.

The governor’s spokesman, Sean Walsh, said Long Beach was chosen because it has been among the most aggressive districts in reducing class sizes and because of its mandatory uniform policy, which Wilson strongly supports.

Walsh, however, declined to fully confirm reports of what would be proposed Thursday.

“We expect to enhance class-size reduction and to what degree we are able to do that we are not prepared to announce right now,” he said. “We are reviewing data of revenues coming into the state, facilities’ issues, districts’ ability to hire quality teachers and the ability for schools to manage the class-size reduction.”

A preliminary review of the class-size reduction policy, Walsh said, indicates that “so far it’s worked fantastic” despite early campaigns, led by state Democrats, to take a more gradual approach.

Although no cost estimates for adding a year to the program were available Friday, previous proposals for expansion have suggested that it will cost at least $250 million per grade level, if participation rates remain steady.

The funds are needed for the additional teachers, supplies and, most notably, space.

“We’d obviously be able to make use of that extra money,” said board trustee Nancy Blumenthal of the Westminster School District, one of a few Orange County districts that were able to cut class sizes in three grade levels.

But ongoing problems such as a shortage of campus space prevents some schools from reducing class sizes in yet another grade level. Santa Ana Unified could barely implement the program even at the first-grade level.

“We’re stuck at first grade,” said Santa Ana school Trustee Robert W. Balen. “Beyond that, we don’t have any space at most of our school sites.”

Wilson’s expected announcement is “good news and bad news for us,” Balen added. “It’s not meaningful until we’re able to implement it. And it doesn’t look possible.”

Another crowded school system, Los Angeles Unified School District, has been unable to scale back more than two grades. They need nothing short of a giant windfall to build new schools to provide all the classroom space it would take.

“For us to do grade three would take at least 1,000 more classrooms,” said Assistant Supt. Gordon Wohlers.

Walsh hinted that state officials are discussing ways to help such crowded districts, but would not provide details.

In July, reducing class size became the state’s latest and most straightforward education reform, part of Wilson’s response to a persistent ranking toward the nation’s bottom rungs in reading and math.

Democratic politicians, school administrators and teachers union officials have complained that the program is underfunded, leaving districts shouldering at least 20% of the extra operating costs--such as for new teachers’ salaries--and often far more for facilities.

“The more teachers we hire, the more pay raises we must offer each year,” Blumenthal said. “We’re going to experience serious encroachment on our general reserves. How will we be able to expand the program when we’re struggling to fund the existing program?”

Earlier this month, Wilson asked the Legislature to provide $151 million more to help ease the districts’ burdens.

On Friday, school officials contacted around Southern California said they would prefer that the state pay the full bill for class-size reduction in three grade levels instead of partially funding four grades.

“Any more partial funding is going to create havoc for districts in my estimation,” said Norm Walker, president of the Simi Valley school board. “If you see an item worth $100 on sale for $50, but you only have $10, the sale really doesn’t matter. It’s a great deal, but if you’re short, you’re short.”

The formula used to dole out the facility money provides $25,000 for each new room needed when two larger classes are trimmed to 20 students. But if a new portable classroom is the only alternative, it actually costs twice that--$50,000.

“That’s the time bomb that’s ticking,” said Day Higuchi, president of United Teachers-Los Angeles, the teachers union. “If we don’t get some bond issue passed, local or state, there will be pressure to take that [shortfall] out of the district’s general fund and then you start cannibalizing your programs.”

Times staff writer Tina Nguyen in Orange County and correspondent Kate Folmar in Ventura County also contributed to this story.