PROP. 10 PRESCHOOLS UP TO 100 IN L.A. AREA.

Byline: Troy Anderson Staff Writer

Nearly a year after a state audit cited spending and other problems with the program, officials announced Thursday that Los Angeles Universal Preschool has contracted with its 100th facility.

The local program operates under the state's First 5 initiative funded by a 50-cents-a-pack cigarette tax from voter-approved Proposition 10, championed by actor-director Rob Reiner to provide funding and coaches to preschools in an effort to give poor, immigrant and minority 4-year-olds a start toward a good education.

At a ceremony in South Los Angeles, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and other officials cited the program efforts to make preschool accessible.

``We all understand the importance of a good education in preparing our children for the future - and it is becoming increasingly clear that a quality preschool experience is an essential part of that effort,'' Villaraigosa said.

Chief Executive Officer Graciela Italiano-Thomas said the program is committing $42.7 million to increase preschool capacity and programming in areas of the county that are in greatest need.

In the San Fernando Valley, the program has contracted with several preschools including Canyon Kids Preschool in Woodland Hills, The Family Nurturing Center Inc. in Northridge and the Happy Bear Preschool in Van Nuys.

Casey Dalton, owner of the Happy Bear Preschool, said the school received its contract Sept. 1 and is interviewing teachers and recruiting 96 children for free preschool.

``We are going to be one of the largest schools,'' Dalton said. ``We are opening two classrooms that serve 24 children in each twice a day - an a.m. program as well as a p.m. program. We are really excited about it.''

A 2004 state audit found that six years after Proposition 10 was approved, only about 15 percent of funds had been spent, with excessive amounts going to administration and travel.

Since its creation in 1999, the local commission has received more than $820 million in tobacco tax revenues. Similar problems had arisen elsewhere in the state in managing the $3.4 billion the proposition had raised.

Since the state audit, Reiner has worked with Assemblywoman Wilma Chan, D-Oakland, on a bill signed by the governor last month that will create conflict-of-interest policies for the program's 52 commissions, limit administrative expenses, salaries and benefits and require the commissions to provide annual audits.

``It's one of the best investments we can make in our future, and I am excited by the progress LAUP has made in just these past six months,'' Reiner said.

Troy Anderson, [phone]

troy.anderson(at)dailynews.com

FYI 

For more information about the Los Angeles Universal Preschool program, call [phone] or see www.laup.net.

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