ASBESTOS FALLOUT; DOCUMENTS SHOW ZACARIAS' ORDERS NOT FOLLOWED UP.

Byline: Greg Gittrich Staff Writer

Los Angeles Unified Superintendent Ruben Zacarias was notified last month that untrained workers were responsible for keeping schools safe from asbestos, but he failed to make immediate changes, according to confidential documents obtained by the Daily News.

Just six days after the district environmental safety team first warned Zacarias of the potentially dangerous situation, health inspectors found asbestos contamination at Woodlawn Elementary School on Oct. 17.

And last week, two of the most populated campuses - Palisades and Roosevelt high schools - were shut down after inspectors found deadly asbestos fibers.

Areas of seven other schools including Canoga Park High School remained cordoned off Monday. It was unclear when the campuses would be certified by state toxic officials as safe.

A spokesman for Zacarias said the superintendent directed Chief Operating Officer Howard Miller on Oct. 29 to ensure the environmental responsibilities were transferred to the appropriate staff.

No changes had been made as of last Friday, although Miller had ordered staff to shift the responsibilities. Miller, who has been in charge of the facilities division since Oct. 12, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Barry Groveman, head of the district's safety team, raised concerns about the management of the asbestos abatement program in an Oct. 11 memorandum to Zacarias. Two weeks later, Groveman reiterated his concerns.

``At this very moment, students, teachers and other occupants of schools throughout the district may be placed at risk because of failure to implement your directives,'' Groveman told the superintendent in the Oct. 25 memo.

Zacarias had ordered all environmental oversight to be transferred to the district's environmental branch last summer, following safety concerns at Gratts Elementary School. His directives were ignored.

Zacarias, who was forced by the school board to accept a contract buyout, agreed last week to a $750,000 retirement package. Ramon C. Cortines, who will take over as interim superintendent when Zacarias exits Jan. 15, will serve as an adviser until then.

``This is one of the reasons why we made the management changes,'' said board President Genethia Hayes. ``We clearly have an asbestos problem.''

Asbestos is not uncommon in buildings more than 20 years old and does not pose a health risk unless it becomes airborne or ``friable.''

Fibers were cast into the air in at least nine LAUSD schools because of lax practices by contractors installing air conditioners and electrical conduits. The majority of the work was funded by the Proposition BB bond measure.

``Contractors that make mistakes should be penalized and those that do well should get more work,'' said Steve Soboroff, chairman of the Proposition BB citizens oversight committee. ``If a contractor left these schools in a condition that they shouldn't have been in, that will be a problem.''

Several contractors have been notified about possible safety violations, officials said. In the coming weeks, an LAUSD task force will check about 300 additional schools for asbestos contamination.

State Sen. Tom Hayden, D-Los Angeles, plans to hold a special hearing next week to look into asbestos contamination at Palisades High School. Hayden called the district's oversight a ``health sham program.''

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2 photos

Photo: (1 -- 2) Above, the gates at Roosevelt High School are locked due to asbestos abatement. At left, work crews move a steel container to an awaiting truck. Work at the school is being conducted out of view from the press and general public.

John McCoy/Staff Photographer