REVENGE OVER BOND FIGHT? : OFFICIALS SAY LAUSD BOARD PRESIDENT THREATENED TEACHERS.

Byline: Terri Hardy Daily News Staff Writer

School leaders Friday accused Los Angeles Board of Education President Jeff Horton of threatening to ``make teachers pay'' for the cost of funding the pricey Belmont Learning Complex, after the head of the teachers union blasted the board for planning to fund it with bond money.

School board member David Tokofsky said Horton told him Wednesday that he would punish United Teachers-Los Angeles President Day Higuchi for his role in unleashing public fury over the district's plan to spend $43.5 million in Proposition BB money to build the $87 million Belmont high school complex.

``He said, `We'll make teachers pay,' '' Tokofsky said Friday. ``He said we had to nail Higuchi for the firestorm he caused.''

Higuchi said Horton threatening him during a telephone conversation Wednesday.

``He said, `You know where the money will come from - from the same source as teachers' salaries and pay increases,' '' Higuchi said. ``I asked, `Is that a threat?' but he didn't answer.''

In an interview Friday, Horton denied telling Tokofsky he would ``nail'' Higuchi, but he refused to disclose what was said. He insisted his statement to Higuchi was not a threat.

``It's a statement of fact,'' Horton said. ``That money would come from the general fund, which is used to pay for a lot of things.''

The call was made, Horton said, because Higuchi had been ``one of the most vehement opponents'' in the flap over Proposition BB funds.

On remarks to Tokofsky, he said: ``I don't report private conversations to the press.''

The Los Angeles Unified School District's board was faced with a tsunami of criticism this week after proposing that the district pay for the Belmont campus - dubbed ``Taj Mahal'' high because of its lavish amenities - using a portion of the $2.4 billion school repair bond passed by voters April 8.

The controversy centered on the district's sales pitch to voters, which focused on the need to fix dilapidated schools - not build new ones. Additionally, the district backed away from its promise to have a blue-ribbon committee oversee bond spending.

Horton said the board will vote Monday on whether to approve the Belmont project - without a set funding plan.

After public outcry, the board backed away from its plan to fund the new school complex using bond money. Instead, Horton said he would push to pay for the project by borrowing money through participation notes that are paid back through the district's general fund.

The Belmont project, which would be located along 1st Street and Beaudry Avenue in downtown Los Angeles, would include a high school, retail shops, housing and possibly a sports complex.

Tokofsky, who opposes the project, released a memo Horton faxed to all board members after the controversy exploded, flatly stating that the district would be moving forward with Belmont - even though the school board is not set to vote on the project until Monday.

In the memo, Horton writes: ``Because of concerns about Brown Act issues it is important that we not seem to have made any decisions before we meet on Monday,'' Horton wrote.

Tokofsky charged that the memo was an attempt to cover up the back-room politicking. Tokofsky said Horton is clearly afraid that he has violated the state's open-meetings law, also called the Ralph M. Brown Act.

``He is trying to take the biggest construction project this district has ever done and slam it through,'' Tokofsky said. ``He's trying to make the decision before the vote, amid the biggest firestorm that has happened to the district since I've been on the board.''

Horton denied that he had already garnered the four votes needed to push the project through.

Richard Mason, the school district's chief attorney, said Horton's actions were not illegal.

``Mr. Horton emphatically states he was not attempting in any way to get a collective commitment,'' Mason said.

Board of Education member Julie Korenstein, who opposes the Belmont project, was angry with Horton for announcing the change in the source of funding for Belmont as if it were a done deal.

``How can the board president and the superintendent hold a press conference without board discussion?'' Korenstein said.

The four remaining board members did not return telephone calls and could not be reached for comment.

A Los Angeles Superior Court judge will decide Monday whether to block the Belmont project while attorneys haggle over the project's legality.

Jesus Quinonez, an attorney representing UTLA, is asking the court to bar the school board from approving the Belmont plan. The judge will decide on the matter just hours before Monday's school board meeting.

The UTLA also wants any previous agreements between the school district and the developer voided because school officials did not follow state bidding laws when selecting the project developer.

``The taxpayers of Los Angeles stand to lose millions of dollars if the project is not put up for competitive bid,'' Quinonez said.

Mason, the district's lawyer, said the UTLA's case has no merit, adding that state bidding laws were followed.

EYE ON THE SCHOOLS

DEVELOPMENTS IN THE LAUSD BELMONT FIASCO:

School Board President Jeff Horton is in the hot seat, with board member David Tokofsky and UTLA President Day Higuchi charging that Horton vowed to ``make teachers pay'' for criticizing the Belmont Learning Complex plan. Page 1

The blue-ribbon Citizen Oversight Committee meets for the first time to discuss the Belmont high issue. The committee also presses the district's top brass about how they plan to restore public confidence. Page 3

OTHER SCHOOL NEWS:

Superintendent candidate Daniel Domenech met with more than 100 parents, teachers, administrators and community leaders in a series of closed-door meetings. Says Domenech: ``If I'm appointed, I'm in charge. If I'm not, then the board shouldn't hire me.'' Page 3

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