SCHOOLS FEAR UNION CONTRACT MAY DOOM OUTSIDE ACTIVITIES.

Byline: Lisa Mascaro and Erik Nelson Staff Writers

A new contract provision that prohibits first-year teachers in the Los Angeles Unified School District from serving as advisers or coaches could limit extracurricular activities, high school principals across the San Fernando Valley said Tuesday.

The rule, which takes effect July 1, was created to protect novice teachers from receiving extra duties outside the classroom during their first year.

While some principals said they expected no trouble filling the jobs, others say the provision could reduce the available pool of coaches, coordinators and advisers who are typically young, inexperienced teachers looking to boost modest starting salaries by taking on auxiliary assignments.

``We are handcuffed a bit, although I understand the reason for that,'' said Christine Clark, principal at John Francis Polytechnic High School in Sun Valley, where the soccer coach is working to get his full credential to continue coaching the team.

At Chatsworth High School, Principal Dan Wyatt said the provision hampers him from finding an adviser for the varsity cheerleading squad or filling two coaching vacancies on the junior varsity football team.

On Tuesday morning, the cheerleaders protested outside the campus to call attention to the issue. They have been warned that the cheerleading program will be canceled in the fall if an adviser can't be found.

School board member Caprice Young, who voted against the UTLA contract, said Tuesday that energetic new teachers should be encouraged to do extra work if they are willing.

``There are a lot of things that are in the contract that make it harder to run the schools,'' Young said.

``If there's someone who falls under that provision, who's enthusiastic enough to take on the responsibility of being a new teacher and coaching the cheerleading squad, they should be able to do that.''

The provision, part of a new so-called ``bill of rights'' section in the contract between United Teachers Los Angeles and the district, applies to all first-year teachers regardless of whether they hold an emergency credential or full credential.

Union officials hope the new rule reduces the number of teachers who leave the profession. Right now, 50 percent of all new teachers quit within five years.

``The most important thing for the teachers are for the teachers to be credentialed and good in their classroom; the other things are side issues,'' said UTLA Second Vice President Bev Cook.

Superintendent Roy Romer's spokeswoman said the provision was aimed at protecting novice teachers from excessive additional work, not preventing them from working with students outside the classroom.

Language in the contract says the rule should be applied to the extent practical - meaning new hires could take on extra duties under certain situations, with disagreements possibly subject to arbitration.

Cleveland High School Principal Allan Weiner said he was hopeful the wiggle room in the contract would allow options.

``I'm sure that if you have a capable first-year teacher who really wants to get involved, something can be worked out,'' Weiner said.

Staff Writer Joseph Giordono contributed to this story.