For Thousands of Students in Valley, Summer Is Already Over

Thousands of San Fernando Valley students start the 2000-01 school year today as administrators and teachers scurry to adapt to a new superintendent and a reorganization of the Los Angeles Unified School District that took effect only four days ago.

In the Valley, 50 schools in the 711,000-student LAUSD operate on multitrack, year-round calendars. Districtwide, 220 schools do.

“This is a big change for us,” said North Hollywood High School Principal John Hyland as he and the staff prepared last week to make the transition from traditional to year-round campus. “We are working hard and trying to make it as smooth as possible.”

Despite protests from parents, students and teachers, district officials last spring ordered the 3,500-student North Hollywood campus to go year-round because of overcrowding fueled by growing enrollment and previous administrations’ failure to build new schools.

“I expect opening day to be hectic,” Hyland said. “This is all so new.”

Also new are Supt. Roy Romer, appointed last month, and the reorganization that took effect July 1. Under the plan, which divides the sprawling district into 11 subdistricts, three of which are in the Valley, local leaders will have substantial control over resources and the autonomy to make most decisions regarding finances and personnel, officials said. They also will be accountable for improving their students’ academic performance.

Appointed less than three weeks ago, the superintendents of the subdistricts have worked long days building their staffs and, in many cases, moving offices.

“We’ve created what amounts to an entire school district in two weeks,” said Deborah L. Leidner, who heads District A, which includes 68,266 students in schools from the highly regarded El Camino Real High in Woodland Hills to the severely overcrowded Monroe High in North Hills.

“I’ve been with this district for 29 years, and I’m now seeing a level of anticipation, a sense of urgency among [staff],” Leidner said. “Let’s get moved, get settled and get going.”

District A headquarters will be at 8550 Balboa Blvd. in Northridge.

The other two Valley superintendents named June 15, Judy Ivie Burton and Robert J. Collins, did not return phone calls to discuss their plans for the new school year.

Burton heads District B, which includes 77,045 students in overcrowded areas in the East Valley. Her office will be at 5200 Lankershim Blvd. in North Hollywood. Collins leads District C, comprising 67,849 students in an area roughly bisected by Ventura Boulevard. His office will be at 6621 Balboa Blvd. in Van Nuys.

Phone numbers for the offices should be in effect later this week, according to a Los Angeles Unified spokeswoman.

Leidner said the offices are meant, in part, to provide parents with greater accessibility to administrators. But she recommended that parents with concerns or complaints talk first to the teacher or principal.

“Ninety percent of the problems can be solved at the school level,” she said.

If that fails, Leidner encouraged parents to contact her office.

“My job is problem-solver,” she said. “My job is to help improve student achievement.”