EDITORIAL : FOLLOW THE LEADER.

THE Vaughn Next Century Learning Center could teach the LAUSD a thing or two about building schools by gaining public trust so as not to alienate neighbors.

The charter school, run independently of the LAUSD, is buying blighted property to build a primary center for 450 children in prekindergarten through first grades that could help alleviate overcrowding at other public schools in the region.

In the next two years, Vaughn officials want to build a primary center on several such properties bounded by Vaughn Street, Herrick Avenue, Del Sur Street and De Garmo Avenue.

Buying derelict sites and using them to expand the school is not new to Vaughn. In 1995, the school opened a multimedia building on the site of a former crack house.

Far from opposing the plan, as is the case with several proposed sites for other LAUSD schools, neighbors seem ecstatic.

Perhaps it's because Vaughn's principal, Yvonne Chan, views neighbors as partners in the process, not obstacles to bulldoze under.

``We can acquire these resident properties because we're neighbors,'' Chan said. ``These are the same parents who want better schools for their children.''

Vaughn now serves about 1,000 children in prekindergarten through fifth grade. Plans call for the charter school to eventually expand to include a 500-student high school.

Vaughn's move could meet a critical need for Pacoima Elementary School, which is 70 students shy of capacity.

And Chan has mapped out a plan to save money by utilizing parking space at two neighboring churches, which could provide day-care and after-school activities as well.

So far, the district - which always fights against anything that works - has moved slowly in providing Proposition BB money to expand.

That's a disgrace.

Using charter schools to help relieve district overcrowding makes good economic sense, because they're faster, cheaper and can cut through red tape.

And it also helps children because the faculty is motivated, parents are involved and administrators support the educational process. There's a lot LAUSD officials could learn from Yvonne Chan if they opened their minds and started serving the community instead of themselves.