CAMPUS LOCKERS VICTIM OF TIMES.

Byline: Sherry Joe Crosby Daily News Staff Writer

With each day, the schoolbooks in Mayda Garcia's satchel seem to weigh heavier and heavier on her 14-year-old shoulders.

If only Mayda could put those books in a locker. But that won't happen at Northridge Middle School.

Like many other schools across the San Fernando Valley, Mayda's has gotten rid of lockers because principals say they cost too much to repair, are targets for vandals, and make convenient stashes for drugs and weapons.

This break from tradition leaves schools with three choices: pay to repair lockers, make students tote their books or spend millions of dollars to buy duplicate textbooks so one set can stay in the classroom.

``Lockers would make it easier,'' the slightly built eighth-grader said, sighing. ``You could go to your locker and carry only what you need.''

School administrators see it differently. Northridge Middle School decided to do away with the lockers because the state and school district will not help pay for repairs.

``Once they get vandalized, they don't get repaired. They become eyesores and a health hazard. It's not a simple thing of storing books. It's more an issue of safety and beautification,'' said Michael Wells, dean of students.

During the past decade, more and more schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District have opted to drop lockers. The trend involves mostly middle schools but includes high schools such as Polytechnic High in Sun Valley.

Eight years ago, most schools had lockers, said JoAnna Kunes, principal of Madison Middle School in North Hollywood, which eliminated lockers in 1994. ``Now, it's become not at all unique to bar students from using lockers.

``We were beset with thefts, fires and vandalism to lockers,'' said Kunes, who credits her school's low crime rate in part to the absence of lockers.

Millikan Middle School plans to spend $40,000 to repair 2,000 lockers, but it has a plan to keep down vandalism. The repaired lockers will be assigned to only the best students - those with good grades and an excellent record of conduct. And then each must a pay $5 fee.

``It's a successful program. They're taking care of the lockers much better,'' Wells said, noting that his office received only three locker complaints last semester compared to an average of 150 complaints in past semesters.

Parents said the merit program for locker assignments is a good compromise.

``Incentive-wise, it's a good idea. They'll work hard on their grades,'' said Linda McManus, whose 11-year-old son is a sixth-grader at Millikan. ``He has a locker and he was really proud to get it, but he doesn't use it.''

As a result of the tough academic requirements, Millikan students said lockers have become a campus status symbol - to be treasured, admired and decorated with pictures of the latest pop music and film stars.

``It shows you have good grades,'' said Caterina Equinozio, an eighth-grade Millikan student who has a locker. ``It's nice. You can always say, `meet me at my locker' to your friends and they can slip notes into your locker.''

For those lockerless students, Millikan is buying extra textbooks, so that students can keep a set at home and another at school. By 1999, the school plans to spend $1.5 million on duplicate textbooks.

Despite stay-at-home textbooks, parents are upset that their children must shoulder the weight of a day's worth of notebooks and other school supplies.

Ellen Greek is so concerned that the heavy books are injuring her daughter at Millikan that she takes the youngster to a chiropractor regularly.

``She's carrying books on her back every darn day,'' said Greek. ``She's an 11-year-old in the beginning of growing. Thirty pounds on her back is not a very healthy load.''

Northridge Middle School is among those buying extra sets of textbooks.

``Our job is education and buying textbooks is an investment in the future,'' said Principal Robert Kinsella. ``The kid no longer has an excuse not to have his textbook with him.''

But Mayda insists that lockers are the best solution for students.

``We have to carry big heavy notebooks,'' the student body president said, indicating a backpack stuffed with binders. ``It's too heavy for me.''

CAPTION(S):

4 Photos

PHOTO (1 -- color) Backpacks are becoming a growing part of school life.

David R. Crane/Daily News

(2 -- color) Marcy Siegal, 11, won this locker with good grades.

(3) Linnie Supall, 11, has decked out her locker with pieces of wallpaper.

(4) Millikan Middle School student Lauren O'Malley, 12, stores some gear.

Bob Halvorsen/Daily News