COUNTERPOINT: BB OVERSIGHT PANEL PLAYING VITAL ROLE.

Byline: Steven Soboroff

ON Oct. 8 it will have been 18 months since voters took the leap of faith and approved Proposition BB, a $2.4 billion infusion of capital to physically save our schools.

Many of us, who had previously lost faith that government could spend bond dollars as directed, gave BB the benefit of the doubt because there were two safeguards clearly in place: signed contractual promises for each of the 901 schools, and an independent oversight committee to ensure the public got its money's worth.

When we send our children to school it's for those basic three R's: reading, writing and arithmetic. When we voted for BB we wanted repairs, renovations and someone to take responsibility. The BB Blue Ribbon Citizens' Oversight Committee protects the public trust by taking the responsibility for recommending ``faster, better, cheaper'' ways to spend those important dollars.

Would a BB measure without oversight have included a greening project to replace 20 million square feet of asphalt with landscaping; a mural project to add color and artwork to school buildings; a way to fast-track air conditioning for the remaining 155 schools; or a method to save up to $50 million by using innovative ways to provide insurance?

In each instance, the answer is no.

For proof, just read Los Angeles Unified School District board member Julie Korenstein's piece, which appears on this page. It's all about excuses not results, problems not solutions and spreading the blame instead of taking responsibility.

Had the district followed the initial recommendations of the oversight committee, Superintendent Ruben Zacarias and Mayor Richard Riordan, all 301 schools lacking air conditioning would have been included in a fixed-price, 18-month cooling project.

Now, only half the schools are covered.

Notwithstanding some grandstanding, we report that the future looks bright.

Over 5,000 of the 12,000 BB projects have been scheduled. Nearly 2,000 of them are complete.

Other cities, like Detroit, New York and Chicago, took up to two years to begin the first project.

In Los Angeles, a diverse oversight committee churns out its recommendations to a team that listens and implements. On Team BB is a program manager, 10 project managers, hundreds of students, parents, principals, teachers and many LAUSD staff professionals.

Sure there are a few naysayers, a few bureaucrats and a few who would prefer to keep ``business as usual'' control, but they are in the minority. They complain, they maneuver, they politic and they press-conference, but they don't have the votes.

BB is not only about bricks and mortar, it's about student self-esteem and pride. BB's impact will not just be measured solely in terms of air-conditioners and paving, but in tomorrow's adults feeling that today's adults care about providing them with a nurturing environment in which to learn.

The next 18 to 36 months will be spent stretching those BB dollars to complete every single repair listed in the 901 updated contracts. In addition, we hope to leverage BB with about $1 billion from the state - if voters approve the State School Bond Measure, known as Proposition 1A, in November - and have the necessary dollars to help provide the 51 new schools, on clean land, necessary for our growing community.

All we ask is that when we repair, remodel and build 'em that there are books and computers inside along with enough teachers to deliver the critical three R's.

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Photo: Soboroff