Local News in Brief : Valley Is Left Out as Schools OK Program to Fight Dropouts

The Los Angeles school board approved a $1-million dropout-prevention program by a 7-0 vote Monday, despite the objections of the two San Fernando Valley board members that the program does not include any Valley schools.

According to a district survey, San Fernando High School, with 56% of its 1981 sophomore class failing to graduate, had the district’s fifth-highest attrition rate. Polytechnic High School in Sun Valley had the 16th-highest attrition rate, 47.8% But neither is on the list of 21 schools, all in the inner-city, that will be served by the pilot program.

Los Angeles School Supt. Harry Handler told the board that the attrition rate was only one of several criteria used to choose the schools. Other considerations were the economic status of the communities served by the schools and the public’s perception that the chosen schools suffer from a severe dropout problem, Handler said.

The board may decide later to add Valley schools to the program, he said.

Last week, a school board committee recommended that San Fernando High School and a nearby junior high and elementary school be included.

Board members Roberta Weintraub, who represents the East Valley, and David Armor, who represents the West Valley, protested the omission of Valley schools from the program.