SCHOOL BOARD TAKEN TO TASK; BB PANEL ASSAILS AIR CONDITIONERS, PORTABLES.

Byline: Terri Hardy Daily News Staff Writer

A citizens' watchdog panel called in Los Angeles school officials Wednesday for a showdown over Proposition BB project gaffes that include the purchase of noisy air conditioners and untested two-story portables.

Members of the BB Citizens Oversight Committee also criticized L.A. Unified School District officials for failing to plan and their penchant for allowing problems to grow into emergencies.

``The district is used to working in a constant crisis state,'' said BB committee member Michael Lehrer.

BB panel Chairman Steve Soboroff accused the district of trying to quickly pass items through the committee without explaining them fully in an attempt to evade oversight.

``It's like they push a bulldozer closer and closer to the edge of a hill - when it eventually tumbles over, it's going so fast that you can't stop it,'' he said.

Soboroff also said the district ``whitewashed'' information it gave to the committee Wednesday about the purchase of air conditioners that are too noisy for classrooms.

``This is their MO - they make it an issue about a disgruntled contractor, an isolated situation and sensationalism,'' Soboroff said. ``In reality, there's an inherent problem in the design of the air conditioners.''

The BB committee also asked district officials to explain why the LAUSD knowingly purchased air conditioners that officials knew were too noisy for classrooms. The problem was revealed in a Daily News story, detailing concerns raised by Keith Henderson, a contractor installing units at one school that failed sound tests.

On Wednesday, district officials downplayed the issue, suggesting it was a problem solely at one elementary school - even though officials last week said it could effect all campuses with the wall-hung air conditioners.

Further, district officials said that manufacturers or contractors would be responsible in making sure the installed units meet LAUSD noise standards.

``There's no liability for the LAUSD,'' said Walter Jones, the district's construction inspector. ``In the past 15 years, we've been able to get all our units down to 50 decibels with a little work, a little tweaking here and there.''

However, Jones failed to tell the committee that other schools have complained about noise problems. Or, that air conditioners at other San Fernando Valley schools have failed sound tests.

Walter Wells, chief executive officer for Sun Manufacturing Inc., stressed Wednesday in an interview that his company will not pay for repairs because the LAUSD knew from the start that the units did not meet their noise standards.

``I made no such claim that they would operate at 50 decibels,'' Wells said. ``None of the manufacturers could, there's no such animal. If that's what the LAUSD wants, then they are going to have to pay a lot more money.''

And Wells said he advised LAUSD officials to use rubber buffers to quiet noise, but they replied it was not possible.

On Wednesday, district officials said including buffers would have meant taking more time to get state approval.

The committee directed the program manager overseeing all work to have experts redesign LAUSD plans to include a rubber buffer.

In the end, the committee called for the redesign of air-conditioning units, and an audit to show how money has been spent.

In another contentious debate, the committee urged the school board to reconsider its plan to buy 157 two-story portable buildings for $131 million.

Superintendent Ruben Zacarias also called for reconsideration after a Daily News story raised questions about the manufacturers' financial histories and ability to provide the portables.

On Wednesday, district officials said they have asked the manufacturers to provide information about their backgrounds and financial stability, and the LAUSD is hiring a consultant to check the companies.