DWP TO FINANCE PLANTING 4,000 TREES AT LAUSD SCHOOLS.

Byline: Sherry Joe Crosby Daily News Staff Writer

Department of Water and Power commissioners agreed Tuesday to plant thousands of trees throughout the Los Angeles Unified School District to help meet provisions of California's new electricity deregulation law.

The board of the DWP will work with four nonprofit ecological groups to get 4,000 trees planted at 42 schools, starting in June.

The $3 million effort is designed to comply with California Assembly Bill 1890, which requires utilities to spend a portion of their revenues on energy and environmental conservation, new technology development and programs for the needy.

The tree-planting effort is one in a series of environmental conservation, community and education programs that the DWP will launch during the next several months.

The trees also will bolster a Proposition BB greening project, aimed at replacing up to 20 million square feet of asphalt playgrounds with grass, trees and shrubs. Proposition BB, a $2.4 billion bond measure to improve Los Angeles public schools, was passed by voters last year.

Officials said the additional trees will help save energy by shading buildings and reducing schools' reliance on air conditioning.

``Even without air conditioning, the trees will cool classrooms down,'' said Lynn Roberts, director of maintenance and operations for the district. ``It's going to give L.A. a different look, and it will be a far superior teaching environment.''

In the 16-month project, the DWP will work with the Hollywood Beautification Team, Los Angeles Conservation Corps, Northeast Trees and TreePeople.

Sponsors plan to hire low-income youngsters and plant about 88 trees at each school. Two schools, including Broadous Elementary in Pacoima, have been selected as model sites to show the advantages of ecologically balanced systems. About 250 trees will be planted on the East Valley campus.

DWP officials also said they are making good on an earlier proposal to air-condition Los Angeles public schools.

``In our bid to provide fast-track air conditioning for LAUSD schools, we promised to help reduce energy use by planting trees and watering them, as well as providing a special environmental . . . education program,'' said S. David Freeman, DWP general manager. ``This program enables us to keep our promise.''

School officials still are negotiating with the DWP and PG&E Energy Services/CH2MHill to air-condition 155 schools, including nine Valley campuses, by fall 1999.

Throughout the school district, 36 schools have been air-conditioned, including 21 Valley schools, at a cost of $18 million.