Downtown High School Gets Initial OK

Despite criticisms that have arisen in recent weeks about the project, the Los Angeles Board of Education approved a preliminary agreement Monday to build a high school downtown after school administrators promised to keep the price at $78 million.

The 6-1 vote came after a closed-door meeting during which the board received a more favorable report from the project’s oversight committee, which complained last week that the developer fees of at least $5.4 million were too high.

“We’ve reviewed everything we can about this project,” said board member Vicki Castro, whose district includes the Temple-Beaudry site where the school would be built. “I really believe we’re at a point to say yes to this community, that we want to invest in you.”

Meanwhile, City Councilman Richard Alatorre threatened to undermine the city’s agreement to spend $12 million on recreation facilities at the school. Alatorre said he would decide what action to take based on the district’s answers to questions he plans to pose later this week.

In particular, Alatorre said, he is concerned that the city grant is being added on top of the base price of the school, bringing the total to at least $90 million. Alatorre contends that items paid for with city money--such as scoreboards, lighting and landscaping--should be part of the basic financing.

Only board member Julie Korenstein voted against the project, which is to return for a final vote early next year. David Tokofsky, who has been a frequent critic of the new school, said he agreed to approve it after Planning Director Dominic Shambra vowed to lower the price from $81 million to $78 million. Shambra had originally estimated that the school would cost about $60 million.