School Board’s Hard Test

Now or never. David Tokofsky, the only incumbent among the reformers who were sworn in Thursday to the Los Angeles school board, got it right. It is now or never for the board, the district, public schools and students.

The timing is right for reform. The school district budget tops $7 billion because of a booming state economy, and California has a governor and Legislature who are committed to redeeming public education. Add to that the $2.4 billion approved by Los Angeles voters to repair schools and build new campuses. The money is there; so are fresh vision, civic support, corporate backing and community goodwill. Genethia Hayes, the new board president, promised Thursday to govern by consensus, which would be a fresh change from the hurled insults of the past.

The fate of the Belmont Learning Center will be among the first major tests of the new board. Belmont is a catastrophe still under construction on an old oil field west of downtown that is riddled with toxic and explosive gases. Can it be made safe at a rational cost or should the board pull the plug after $171 million has been poured into the project? The decision requires reliable information from the district within a reasonable time. Supt. Ruben Zacarias has promised to present the options “sooner rather than later.” What’s needed is a date certain for making the decision so this doesn’t drag on--a giant, dangerous money pit. Board veteran Valerie Fields has requested a special meeting next week to address this and related environmental issues.

Belmont needs to be settled, perhaps with legal consequences for some of those involved. The board knows it also has to focus on student achievement in a district where fewer than 30% of third-graders read at grade level. Newcomers Caprice Young and Mike Lansing have also called for more rigorous auditing, long-term planning and major management reform. Stronger oversight is needed throughout the system.

Zacarias must also pass a new test. Free now of meddling and micromanaging, he will succeed or fail on his own performance. He has a chance to lead rather than follow petty instructions from politically driven school board members and should waste no time.

Los Angeles public schools educate more than 700,000 students, too many of whom won’t make it out of high school unless the new school board can carry through on its promised revolution. Belmont is a harsh first test of their resolve, but they must get past it and on to ensuring that students learn.