SCHOOLS GETTING MORE FUNDS\Governor's spending plan to benefit L.A. Unified most.

Byline: Mark Katches Daily News Staff Writer

As part of a rosy budget picture to be unveiled this week, Gov. Pete Wilson on Sunday outlined a $275.8 million increase in school spending with the bulk of the money going to buy computer equipment, new library resources and textbooks.

The higher funding level for schools will be made possible by a surge in general fund revenues - estimated at $800 million - as the state rebounds from a debilitating recession.

"Computer literacy must become a new basic skill," Wilson said in a statement. "If our children are to be tomorrow's leaders and compete in the global marketplace, we must ensure that they have proficient computer skills."

State law requires that 41 percent of the general fund budget be earmarked for education. Wilson's plan sticks to that formula, but the governor can suggest how the money is spent, said Russ Gould, Wilson's finance director.

"We're trying to target areas where we think we're going to get a big payback," Gould said.

The increase in funding will add about $7,000 for every classroom above the spending levels two years ago.

Wilson has split his funding priorities into four major pieces. They are:

$100 million for schools to buy computers and for other technology improvements. The money would be allocated based on the number of students in local districts - meaning the Los Angeles Unified School District, the largest in California, stands to gain the most.

$100 million for library resources and textbooks that stress the basics of English and math instruction instead of what the governor called "fuzzy math and inventive spelling." Wilson cited statistics showing that 60 percent of students entering the California State University system need remedial classes in English and math. The fund will be administered by the state Department of Education.

"Our educators only hurt California children when they don't require a mastery in the basic skills of reading, writing and math," Wilson said.

$65.8 million for alternative school programs. A new state law requires that $20 million be spent next year on children who have been expelled for bringing drugs or weapons to schools. Wilson is proposing an additional $45.8 million for other troubled children who would be educated in alternative programs off campus where they won't disrupt other students.

School districts would have to apply for the money based on the number of students who fit the criteria.

$10 million for a pilot program for local districts to work with financially strapped city and county libraries to improve their learning facilities by "pooling resources."

Wilson plans to talk briefly about the new programs in his annual State of the State address, which he will deliver to both houses of the Legislature today at 5 p.m.

The announcement of the school funding plan comes on the heels of his proposal last week to set aside $57 million in the 1996-97 budget to avoid any tuition hikes at community colleges and state-funded universities this year.

Wilson's budget proposal will go to the Legislature on Wednesday and needs to be adopted by June 15.

"The bottom line is there is a lot of good news this year," Wilson press secretary Sean Walsh said.

With an enrollment of about 640,000 students, LAUSD has about 40 percent of the state's students, which would mean that roughly $40 million of the computer money alone would come to Los Angeles schools.

"I don't think any student going into the year 2000 can function in society unless they are computer literate," said LAUSD board member Barbara Boudreaux.

She added that the district is behind in educating its students with computers because of the sheer number of children and a lack of resources.

"Anything that will help students sounds encouraging to me," she said.

But Boudreaux said she hopes the new programs do not get bogged down in administrative red tape.

"I don't want any of the money siphoned off before it actually gets to the students in the classroom," she said.