OUR NEEDY SCHOOLS; $170 MILLION BELMONT COST MEANS FEWER BOOKS, SUPPLIES.

Byline: Greg Gittrich Staff Writer

While the environmentally troubled Belmont Learning Center places an unprecedented drain on Los Angeles Unified's general fund, teachers, students and parents districtwide say they lack necessary programs and materials.

The nation's costliest high school - unlike other school construction projects - is being built largely with general fund money normally used for textbooks, supplies and paying salaries. To date, the district has invested $170 million in Belmont.

Four of seven board members have said they lean toward voting Nov. 19 to abandon Belmont because of serious contamination problems, which would free up $142 million almost immediately.

``Let's see - what would I want'' said Principal Bob Kladifko at Reseda High School, before rattling off a laundry list of items.

``Included on my wish list would be textbooks, library books, any and all instructional materials. I'd also like a salary increase for staff - both teachers and classified employees; money for professional development, and something to help improve student achievement on the Stanford 9 and enhance standards-based instruction.

``Those are the uppermost things that come to mind. Hmm, did I forget anything? We need just about everything.''

Ronald Frydman, principal at Frost Middle School in Granada Hills, said he would use some of the $142 million to boost starting teacher salaries.

But first he wants back the $200,000 the district took out of the $350,000 his school earned last year for improved attendance. The district told him it needed the money for special education costs.

``The big B word never came up,'' said Frydman, referring to Belmont. He said he would use that amount to finish buying books and computers for his school.

Sylvia Gonzalez, who directs the parent center at Polytechnic High School in Sun Valley, said she would spend the money on computers for students.

``Our students are our future and they need these skills,'' she said.

Norma Ramirez, an Arleta resident with one son at Canterbury School and another at Sepulveda Middle School, said she would scrap Belmont immediately on safety grounds even though ``so many schools are overpopulated.''

Mocking the administrative chaos that had engulfed the district's downtown headquarters in recent weeks and culminating with Superintendent Ruben Zacarias' $750,000 contract buyout, the wishes of many staffers drifted toward fantastical and sarcastic dreams.

A few district employees suggested using the Belmont money to buy a luxury box at the new Staples Center downtown to wine and dine potential candidates vying to become the new superintendent.

Others pointed out the school district could recruit its very own aspiring baseball legend in center fielder in Ken Griffey Jr. The baseball superstar just turned down an eight-year, $135 million offer from the Seattle Mariners.

``They're throwing so much money around downtown, signing Griffey isn't that far of a stretch,'' said a San Fernando Valley principal who asked to remain unnamed. ``They should start taking care of the kids in the classrooms. It's not like the kids have everything they need.''

During the last two years, the state has repeatedly refused to give the district funding for the school partially built downtown atop an oil field that seeps deadly and explosive gases.

Only last month, state Assembly Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa, D-Los Angeles, told the district not to expect the state to give it ``a dime'' for Belmont. Typically, the state pays for at least 50 percent of the costs to construct public schools, using bond money and other revenue, with the rest coming from local bond money.

Until recently, the district's downtown bureaucrats were adamant they were sticking close to the ``guaranteed maximum price,'' arguing the entire school could be built for about $170 million.

As the Daily News' ongoing investigation of the school continued to expose hidden costs, the district revealed on Oct. 7 that $170 million already had been spent with the school years away from completion.

Now, a majority of the school board has indicated that they are leaning toward scrapping Belmont.

Board members Caprice Young, Julie Korenstein and David Tokofsky have pledged to vote against building the school. Board President Genethia Hayes said she is not convinced the site can be made safe, and Mike Lansing and Valerie Fields are withholding their position. Victoria Castro remains a supporter of the project.

The board is awaiting a final report from the Belmont Commission, detailing the reasoning behind the panel's recommendation on a 4-3 to finish the school.

Unless the commission's report contains drastically new information about the safety of the site, which is unexpected, sources close to the board said they expect construction to be abandoned.

``Right now there are four definite votes against it,'' said one board member. ``I'd say at least five people are going to vote to not go forward.

Staff Writer Robert Monroe contributed to this story.

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Box: Money well spent?

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