ZACARIAS PROPOSES TO CUT UP DISTRICT; SUPERINTENDENT GOES BEHIND BOARD'S BACK.

Byline: Greg Gittrich and David R. Baker Staff Writers

Without consulting the Los Angeles school board, Superintendent Ruben Zacarias defiantly declared Tuesday he would carry out a massive restructuring of the LAUSD - with or without board approval - chopping it into 12 districts, each with financial independence and its own assistant superintendent.

In a bizarre twist in the escalating tension between the board and the superintendent, Zacarias detailed his plan in one room of Los Angeles Unified headquarters downtown, while down the hallway the school board met behind closed doors to begin his quarterly evaluation and consider discipline for his subordinates responsible for the Belmont Learning Center scandal.

On a 5-2 vote, six key administrators responsible for the construction of Belmont were removed from the chain of command by putting them on administrative leave pending a decision on discipline. Negotiations on buying out Chief Administrative Officer David Koch and General Counsel Richard K. Mason were continuing.

Neither the superintendent nor the board immediately acknowledged the other's actions, illustrating the significant rift that has divided the district's upper echelon for more than two weeks.

Later, board member Victoria Castro, a Zacarias supporter, said his plan made sense and she hoped it would not be seen ``as a political move.''

``As the superintendent, he has the legal responsibility and the authority to structure his staff to accomplish the goals set before him,'' she said. ``My belief is you hire the superintendent, tell him what you want, and then let him do it.''

Board member Julie Korenstein questioned what would be achieved by Zacarias' plan, and newly elected reform board member Caprice Young said much of the plan needs board approval although some points are worth discussing.

``It's the board prerogative to create the structure of the district,'' she said.

Zacarias said he would welcome school board support but asserted he does not need its approval to overhaul the 700,000-student district, the nation's second largest, unless his plan increases costs. His intention is to carry out the restructuring by June 30.

``This is not a call to arms. This is not meant to be me vs. them,'' Zacarias said, explaining he based his plan on a (private sector model) of management.

``I would want board concurrence. It's important that we join hands with this restructuring.''

Despite his downplaying the rift, Zacarias' proposal attacks the board action that triggered the tension, the Oct. 12 appointment of Howard Miller as chief executive officer with responsibility for the entire district, a move that critics charged reduced Zacarias to a figurehead.

Miller, a school board member in the late 1970s, was brought in initially to take charge of school construction in the wake of the Belmont scandal, and Zacarias' plan would return him to that post. He would be responsible for school construction, real estate, project management, and environmental health and safety.

``This is my take on what needs to be done,'' Zacarias said. ``Mr. Miller has great expertise in the real estate arena . . . He is a real estate attorney.''

Miller, who could not be reached for comment, has been tasked by the board to recommend his own reorganization of the district in the wake of scathing reports on the Belmont scandal and the district's handling of environmental problems at all its campuses.

Zacarias maintains Miller's appointment to CEO violates his contract and breaks state education laws. But the board has shown no sign of backing down, other than planning to change Miller's title to chief operating officer this Thursday when it reapproves his appointment because of questions raised about proper notice two weeks ago.

Zacarias' plan calls for two other administrative chiefs - one in charge of instruction, the other heading up administrative services - to report directly to him.

Despite the board's intention to buy out Koch, Zacarias envisions him as head of administrative services and Deputy Superintendent Liliam Castillo as head of instruction.

Castillo would oversee the disbanding of the district's 27 clusters and creating the new semiautonomous 12 districts. Each district would have its own assistant superintendent, budget and staffing, but fall under the larger control of the school board and Zacarias. The sizes and locations of the districts were not defined.

``This is not meant to be a precursor to breaking up the district,'' Zacarias said. ``It does address the concerns of people who believe this district does not respond well to the different needs.''

In putting six top officials on administrative leave, the board was acting on the scathing report of Belmont last month by chief auditor Don Mullinax.

Those put on leave were Robert Niccum, director of the Real Estate and Asset Management Branch; Elizabeth Louargand, a former director of the Facilities Division; Diane Doi and Susie Wong, former directors of the Environmental Health and Safety Branch; Richard Lui, an environmental health inspector; and Rodger Friermuth, a project manager.

None of them could be reached for comment on the action.

The suspensions will extend through the conclusion of traditional disciplinary hearings for the employees. No definite time frame was established by the school board during its nearly six-hour closed meeting.

Mullinax blamed 15 former and current employees for allowing the district to build the nation's costliest high school without adequate environmental assessments. He recommended discipline, including possible dismissal, of those still on the payroll.

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Photo: Zacarias