Prosecutors Expect Board to Rescind Vote on Belmont

Prosecutors told a top Los Angeles schools official Wednesday that they expect the Board of Education to rescind a vote taken last month on the Belmont Learning Complex because it was done without public input.

In a closed-door meeting Dec. 12, the school board gave Supt. Roy Romer permission to explore proposals to open or sell the half-finished high school near downtown.

Shortly after, Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley demanded that the school board reconsider the matter in open session. Cooley argued that the board had violated the state open-meetings law.

In a meeting Wednesday with Hal Kwalwasser, general counsel for the Los Angeles Unified School District, prosecutors said they expect the school board to rescind its Dec. 12 vote.

“Anything short of that would be unacceptable,” Deputy Dist. Atty. Susan Chasworth said afterward. “The decision to solicit bids from the private sector to complete [or sell] Belmont was something that should have been discussed in an open meeting.”

Kwalwasser maintains the school board complied with state law, which allows public agencies to go behind closed doors to discuss matters relating to litigation, real estate negotiations and other sensitive areas.

Kwalwasser also said Romer does not need the school board’s authorization to seek outside bids on Belmont. He said that the 4-3 vote in December was a show of support for the superintendent’s plan.

Still, Kwalwasser said he will raise the subject of rescinding the vote with district leaders and return to prosecutors with a proposal.

“I think we’ll be able to reach a mutually acceptable resolution,” he said.

The district has until early February to meet the district attorney’s demands, Chasworth said. If L.A. Unified does not comply, the D.A.’s office can file a civil lawsuit.