School Construction

State Assemblyman Scott Wildman is correct (“It Takes a Common Vision,” May 17) when he stresses that “we must reject quick fixes and forge a common . . . will” in addressing California’s critical shortage of classroom seats. His recommendations for action make sense if we are to eliminate the bottlenecks that keep us from meeting the needs of our children.

However, I must correct one statement regarding the building efforts of the Los Angeles Unified School District. He implies that the district had done little or nothing in the past to address our housing problem. These are the facts. Despite totally inadequate funding by the state--the principal source of money for classroom construction--over the last 10 years, LAUSD has:

* Constructed 16 new schools, including 12 elementary schools, one middle school and one high school. Because of this construction, 14,000 students now walk to neighborhood schools instead of boarding buses to faraway sites.

* Hundreds of additional permanent classrooms have been added at 37 other schools creating 31,000 more seats for students, again providing space so students can attend their neighborhood schools.

Our efforts translate to 45,000 new classroom seats--a population the size of the Seattle School District.

Despite passage of our local repair and construction bond issue last year, Proposition BB, the real answer to public education’s housing crisis lies in Sacramento. It is heartening to see Wildman taking a leadership role in addressing the issue. We stand ready to lend our support to his efforts and to those of the legislative leadership in the state Capitol.

RUBEN ZACARIAS, Superintendent, Los Angeles Unified School District