VAUGHN, FENTON RETAIN CHARTERS.

Byline: Sherry Joe Crosby Daily News Staff Writer

Two San Fernando Valley schools won renewal of their charters Monday, despite lingering disputes over financial issues and how many days students are required to go to school.

The Los Angeles Board of Education unanimously approved the five-year charters of Vaughn Next Century Learning Center in Pacoima and Fenton Avenue Charter School in Lake View Terrace.

Monday's board meeting was expected to be a showdown between the two charter schools and the district staff, which late Friday sent a list of 21 demands that the schools must meet to keep their charters.

A top Los Angeles Unified School District official said during the meeting, however, that the list was not an ultimatum but simply was meant to call attention to items that are critical to the operation of the schools.

Several LAUSD officials and board members said they regretted the miscommunication.

``There have been some misunderstandings and we understand some of these late transmissions caused anguish, and we realize it caused you a great deal of concern, which we should have alleviated,'' said Rich Mason, chief counsel for the district.

Dozens of parents and teachers from Vaughn attended the meeting, some wearing T-shirts signifying that their school had won a National Blue Ribbon, the top award in the nation for schools with outstanding educational programs.

``We are very thrilled and excited,'' said Josie Romero, a second-grade teacher at Vaughn. ``They allowed us to continue planting the seeds that actually sprouted.''

Vaughn's principal, Yvonne Chan, was visibly thrilled and adamant about resolving the three outstanding issues. However, she thanked the board for its approval.

``Finally we've earned their credibility,'' Chan said of the board members. ``We were the lowly people out there, and it took us five years to get from the bottom of the hill to the top. Now we are at the same eye level.''

Both schools will continue to operate as they seek mediation to settle disagreements over the $130,000 annual district administrative fee. Vaughn also disputes the $15,000 annual maintenance fee.

Vaughn and Fenton want to start a fee-for-service plan, in which each school would pay for services provided by the district.

Now Vaughn and Fenton each pay 3 percent of their annual budget for district services, but the schools say they are not getting their money's worth. The district counters that it wants to use a combination of a fee-for-service plan as well as a flat fee based on a percentage.

Also Vaughn wants to clarify how it reports the number of days children attend school.

At issue is whether 20 days of the 200 school days are voluntary. Vaughn says it has 200 mandatory school days, but the district says 20 of those days are voluntary. The issue must be resolved in order to settle how much the school is reimbursed for attendance.

Board members expect the disputes to be settled.

``I am very happy that we clarified most of these things and will resolve the other issues,'' said board member David Tokofsky.

The board also approved the renewal petitions of two other schools in Los Angeles, the Open Charter School and the Westwood Charter School.

LAUSD board members address range of issues

The Los Angeles Board of Education met Monday in a session closed to the public to discuss personnel matters, litigation and labor negotiations, members said.

Members said they voted that if the California School Boards Association decides to support a lawsuit against Proposition 227, the bilingual-education measure, then the Los Angeles Unified School District also would lodge its support.

The board also considered Superintendent Ruben Zacarias' performance, in anticipation of his formal review on his one-year anniversary in July, members said. Board members also considered the dismissal of employees and labor negotiations.

CAPTION(S):

3 Photos, Box

PHOTO (1 -- color) Yvonne Chan, right, principal of Vaughn Next Century Learning Center, and parent Raquel Gonzales applaud the board's decision to renew the school's charter.

(2 -- color) Parents and teachers fill the school board room, awaiting word of whether the two Valley schools would win renewal of their charters.

(3 -- color) Ruben Zacarias, superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District, listens to arguments in favor of the two schools.

David Crane/Daily News

BOX: LAUSD board members address range of issues (see text)