LOCAL `PRINCIPALS' ALL BUSINESS.

Byline: Patricia Farrell Aidem Daily News Staff Writer

Some left the offices of corporate America, others locked up their home businesses for the day and still more let cohorts cover at the shop to get a principal's-eye view of Santa Clarita's schools.

Monday was the Principal-for-a-Day Program at the community's 39 schools, an annual fund-raiser sponsored by the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce Education Foundation.

Businesspeople took the morning off to see just what it's like to be principal.

``The program is a great benefit to schools and businesses,'' said Ron Tropcich, event chairman and principal for the day at the new Plum Canyon Elementary School in Saugus.

``The businessperson takes back more of an understanding of what it takes to run a school. The principal's involved in a lot of different aspects. And there are things a businessperson can do to help a school.''

Businesspeople pay varying rates for the honor, money that is contributed to the foundation for scholarships and grants to local schools. And foundation members hope the businesspeople and educators find ways to team up to bring private money to cash-starved schools. The goal this year was to raise $5,000 from the visiting principals.

Tropcich, director of internal affairs for Pacific Bell, was joined by representatives from an array of businesses. U.S. Borax, Six Flags California, alarm companies, accounting firms, real estate brokerages, builders and banks sent ``principals.''

Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich acted in a new event capacity. He was among three superintendents for the day. His assignment was the Saugus Union School District where he toured the new Mountainview School in Saugus and visited the site of the planned North Park School in Valencia.

Antonovich met a formidable fifth-grade class, one that demanded information on a planned park, solutions to the city's heavy traffic and local school overcrowding.

``There are so many schools that are overcrowded,'' one youngster said. ``Are you building more schools?''

A former teacher, Antonovich gave quick lessons in public funding. Remedies are coming, he said, but meeting the demands of growth is a complex process.

More complex was the question that came from another pupil.

``Why could people vote for a dead person?'' the boy asked.

Antonovich, among leaders who had urged a vote for the late Sheriff Sherman Block to ensure the Board of Supervisors appoint his replacement, sidestepped the politics and turned the touchy query into a brief lesson in government.

The supervisor said he enjoyed touring the school and was impressed by the children.

``They're bright and inquisitive,'' he said. ``They're curious and their questions have substance.''

Tropcich said he found the same thing at Plum Canyon and was surprised when a young girl asked him about setting goals.

``You could tell she would go far,'' he said. ``It's a real eye-opener. It gives you an opportunity to see all that goes into educating our children.''

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2 Photos

PHOTO (1--Color) Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich reads to first-grade students at Mountainview Elementary School as superintendent for the day.

(2) Antonovich was quizzed by young students on issues of the day.

Andy Holzman/Daily News