A plan for real estate is advised
The report is the second from the 13-member task force that includes co-chair Laphonza Butler, president of Service Employees International Union Local 2015, and Elise Buik, chief executive of United Way of Greater Los Angeles.
The first report tackled chronic student absenteeism and quickly led to pilot projects. Beutner said they’ve done well, and he expects them to go districtwide next year.
Beutner put together the task force last year with the blessing of L.A. schools Supt. Michelle King, who went on medical leave for cancer treatment soon after and was unable to return. Interim Supt. Vivian Ekchian is equally supportive, Beutner said.
The task force includes three members whose names have come up as possible King successors: Beutner, who was formerly the Los Angeles Times publisher; Wendy Greuel, a district parent and former L.A. city controller; and Miguel Santana, chief executive of the Los Angeles County Fair Assn. and former Los Angeles city administrative officer.
The superintendent search is confidential, and it’s not clear whether any of them have submitted their names. Ekchian confirmed to The Times that she has applied.
The task force’s report gave some examples of underused properties, including 16 acres in a downtown industrial area and two spots in the west San Fernando Valley.
It also mentions successes, including the new YMCA adjacent to University High School in Sawtelle, on what used to be an empty lot. The 60,000square-foot building serves students as well as area residents. Such projects should happen elsewhere, said Beutner, who added that the Sawtelle project took too long — 12 years — to complete.
A second example of success, the Sage Park Apartments in Harbor Gateway, has 90 low-cost units on 5.7 acres adjacent to Gardena High. Eighty-three units are leased to low-wage district employees. District leaders had intended the Gardena units for teachers, but teachers make too much to qualify for the subsidized units.