SHOULD KIDS PAY TO PLAY? BEGINNING NEXT YEAR, YOUTH GROUPS WILL BE CHARGED FEES FOR USING L.A. SCHOOL DISTRICT'S FACILITIES AND ATHLETIC FIELDS DISTRICT FACES $3.8 MILLION IN ANNUAL COSTS.

Byline: NAUSH BOGHOSSIAN

Staff Writer

Hundreds of nonprofit youth groups in the San Fernando Valley and across the city would have to pay to use Los Angeles Unified facilities and athletic fields under plans quietly set to launch next year.

The move comes just two years after district officials abandoned similar efforts after a broad public outcry that it could force youth groups to cancel thousands of worthwhile after-school events.

Superintendent David Brewer III, who is reviewing the options, said a fee is needed to offset the $3.8 million a year the district pays for utilities, maintenance and other costs involved in making the facilities available.

"We're one of only very few school districts that do not charge, including the city, so all we're doing is coming in line with everybody else," Brewer said.

"It was a real good deal as long as we could afford it, but now we can't afford it any more. We are at a point of reality, where everybody else is, including the city."

Members of some community groups say they understand the district's challenge but that the proposed fees are simply too high for their shoestring budgets to cover.

"I don't think anybody is so foolish to think we shouldn't be contributing a little bit toward the field usage," said Drew Bracken, vice president of Northridge City Little League.

The league has about 650 kids on 50 teams that each practice up to four hours a week. That means the league would have to pay $2,000 a week for the 12-week season.

"Once they open it up, what's going to happen next year and the following year?" Bracken said. "Are they going to charge more money?"

LAUSD staff members have recommended that Brewer impose fees that are in line with those charged by the city. They would take effect before the permit-application deadline of Jan. 15, which would give groups several months to plan how to absorb the costs.

A focus group of representatives of various organizations -- including athletic teams and the city -- held three meetings to get input on the best way to deal with the financial challenges.

Although most participants opposed any charges, three recommendations were drafted by Alvaro Cortes, assistant superintendent of Beyond the Bell, which oversees after-school programs at the LAUSD.

"We're the last bastion of free civic center permits. We have never charged youth groups until now," Cortes said.

"Is it a problem? Yes. But right now other people charge more -- the city charges, other entities charge."

The LAUSD issues about 2,850 permits annually to youth organizations. The district's facilities are used about 55,000 times over the course of a year.

Cortes said that if parents feel the fees make it too expensive to have their students join athletic teams or after-school groups, other options for meeting locations include free after-school programs at lower-income elementary and middle schools.

"We're in a financial situation which is difficult and part of it is that we have to come to terms that it's costing us close to $4 million per year and we have to recapture the costs in some way," he said.

Mary Ann Lapointe of West Hills attended one of the focus group session and said she feels any fees would amount to double-paying because she already is a city taxpayer.

Lapointe works with The Good News Club, which teaches morality and character in the context of the Bible at 24 schools.

The group wants to have activities at every school -- but a fee would make that challenging.

"L.A. Unified basically has the money. They're operating with $6.2 billion and it seems like they can find the money somewhere," Lapointe said.

"It would feel like paying the school district when we feel the schools truly belong to the community."

Bracken said the Northridge City Little League charges parents about $150 per child to join, but that fee could increase if the district starts charging for field usage.

The league also could consider sharing field time with other groups to try to make the finances work. Currently, it operates a snack bar to stay afloat, he said.

"It could lessen the quality of baseball we're giving and you may not get as many kids playing," Bracken said. "We can't afford it, but we'll figure it out. We'll succeed and the kids will still have a great time.

"I'm not even going to comment on some areas of Los Angeles that aren't as affluent."

naush.boghossian(at)dailynews.com

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Pay to play

Recommendations awaiting Superintendent David Brewer III's decision:

Charge youth groups the same rates as adult groups: $77.10 for a permit and $25.50 per hour. Projected return of $4.8 million for youth groups and $1.4 million for adult ones.

Charge fees like the city's -- $5 per hour for classrooms and libraries, and $10 an hour for fields and other athletic facilities. Also a $78 permit fee that runs four months per school facility. Projected return of nearly $1.9 million.

Groups that are financially better off would pay higher fees.

CAPTION(S):

3 photos, box

Photo:

(1 -- color) Members of the Chatsworth Chiefs, a local youth football team, line up for practice on the field at Chatsworth High School.

(2 -- color) The LAUSD issues about 2,850 permits annually to youth groups. The district's facilities are used about 55,000 times over the course of a year.

(3) The Chatsworth Chiefs begin practice at Chatsworth High School. District Superintendent David Brewer III says the LAUSD is one of a very few school districts that do not charge fees.

Andy Holzman/Staff Photographer

Box:

Pay to play (see text)