Collection Guide
Collection Title:
Collection Number:
Get Items:
Hayden (Tom) Belmont Learning Complex Investigation
Collection
URB.BLC
No online items
View entire collection guide
Search this collection
Table of contents
Contributing Institution:
Special Collections & Archives
Title: Tom Hayden Belmont Learning Complex Investigation Collection
Creator:
Hayden, Tom, 1939-
Identifier/Call Number: URB.BLC
Extent:
19.66 linear feet
Date (inclusive): 1978-2002
Abstract: The Belmont Learning Complex (BLC) was
established in an effort to relieve overcrowding in schools west of Downtown Los Angeles, as
well as to provide a neighborhood school for students who were bused long distances
(primarily to the San Fernando Valley). In September and November 1998, State Senator Tom
Hayden chaired hearings of the Senate Natural Resources Committee into the issue of toxic
pollution in urban schools, focusing attention on what had become widely known as the
"Belmont fiasco." The State Joint Legislative Audit Committee also held hearings and
presented reports about misuse of funds, disregard for student safety and health, and other
persistent problems in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD).
The Tom Hayden Belmont Learning Complex Investigation Collection contains State
Senator Tom Hayden's papers regarding the funding, construction, health and safety concerns,
and investigations related to the Los Angeles Unified School District's Belmont Learning
Center. It includes correspondence, memoranda, news articles, reports, architectural
diagrams, and construction documents, as well as audio and video tapes of hearings and
meetings of state and local entities.
Language of Material: English
Tom Hayden served in the California State Assembly from 1982-1992, and as a State Senator
from 1992-2000. In September and November 1998 he chaired hearings of the Senate Natural
Resources Committee regarding the issue of toxic pollution in urban schools, focusing
attention on what had become widely known as the "Belmont fiasco." In his official capacity
as hearings chair, Hayden collected documents regarding the funding, construction, health
and safety concerns, and investigations related to Los Angeles Unified School District's
(LAUSD) Belmont Learning Center, and other school sites with problems related to on-site
toxins.
The State Joint Legislative Audit Committee (JLAC), chaired by Assemblyman Scott Wildman,
also held hearings and presented reports about misuse of funds, disregard for student safety
and health, and other persistent problems in LAUSD during the 1990s. The JLAC reported that
LAUSD never applied to the Department of Toxic Substances Control prior to construction in
order to determine whether land should be designated a "hazardous waste property" or a
"border zone property," as was standard procedure. Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike
Antonovich and Senator Hayden called for civil and criminal investigations to determine if
LAUSD officials intentionally and fraudulently allowed contaminated soil to be used in site
preparation at Belmont.
The Belmont site caused so much concern that in 1999, the LAUSD board was pushed to create
the Internal Audit and Special Investigations Unit to serve as a watchdog over waste and
fraud. Don Mullinax was appointed as inspector general. Hayden, who had pushed for the
establishment of an internal auditor since 1997, sponsored legislation that would give
Mullinax subpoena power. That legislation passed in 1999, with additional legislation in
2000 giving the auditor even more investigative power.
The
Tom Hayden Belmont Learning Complex Investigation
Collection
contains Senator Hayden's papers regarding the funding, construction,
health and safety, and other areas of investigation related to Los Angeles Unified School
District's Belmont Learning Center. It includes correspondence, memoranda, news articles,
reports, architectural diagrams, and construction documents, as well as audio and video
tapes of hearings and meetings of state and local officials. Hayden also collected
information on other schools with problems related to on-site toxins, including Jefferson
Middle School, South Gate Middle and High Schools, Towne Avenue Elementary School, John
Francis Polytechnic High School, Cahuenga Elementary School and Gratts Elementary School.
The collection documents LAUSD's attempts to purchase the Ambassador Hotel for use as a high
school, and construction of an elementary school on a polluted site at the Playa Vista
development in Marina del Rey. The collection is divided into five major series:
Belmont Junior High School (1983-1999),
Belmont
High School
(1983-1995),
Belmont Learning Complex
(1978-2002),
Other Toxic School Sites (1985-2000), and
Non-Manuscript Materials (1988-1999).
Series I,
Belmont Junior High School, consists of materials
that document efforts to build a new junior high school, or transform the existing Belmont
High School into a junior high and build a new high school. Materials are organized
chronologically. Undated documents are filed at the beginning of each series, subseries, or
subject set. In some documents, the proposed school is referred to as Belmont Middle School.
The series is divided into four subseries: Subseries A,
Finance
(1983-1997), consists of documents directly related to funding the proposed project,
including those regarding property acquisition and construction. Subseries B,
Agreements and Contracts (1986-1995), consists of official agreements
between LAUSD and contractors, architects, subcontractors, as well as requests for bids.
Subseries C,
Subject Files (1985-1999), includes the following
topics: Construction, Environmental Impact Report (EIR); Oil Wells/Toxins; Plans and
Diagrams, Property Acquisition, and Site Review/Assessment. Subseries D,
General Correspondence (1985, 1990-1993), includes correspondence and memoranda
documenting the decision-making process.
Series II,
Belmont High School, includes documentation
regarding the proposal to build a new high school for the Belmont High School area, and a
related project to add a classroom and shop building to the existing Belmont High School.
The SAB application number for this project is 22/24031 and is divided into three subseries:
Subseries A,
Finance (1983-1995), documents funding of the
proposed project, including funding property acquisition and construction are housed. SAB
documents are included in this subseries. Subseries B,
Agreements and
Contracts
(1986-1994), includes agreements between LAUSD and contractors,
architects, and subcontractors. Subseries C,
Subject Files
(1984-1995), includes materials on construction, Environmental Impact Reports (EIR),
plans and diagrams, property acquisition, and site review and assessments
Series III,
Belmont Learning Complex, is divided into six
subseries. Subseries A,
Finance (1988-1989), includes documents
related to costs and financing of construction of the Belmont Learning Complex, including
design, architecture, furnishings, and site preparation. This subseries also includes
resolutions, reports, and correspondence from the State Allocation Board. Subseries B,
Agreements and Contracts (1994-1999), contains official agreements
between LAUSD and contractors, architects, and subcontractors, including correspondence
regarding creating agreements, and bid forms. Subseries C,
Subject Files
(1978-2002), includes materials on Assembly and Senate Bills, construction,
Environmental Impact Reports (EIR), history and background, inspector general, legal, oil
wells and toxins, plans and diagrams, property acquisition, retail, site review, and
assessment. Subseries D,
Reports (1996-1999), includes reports
compiled by contractors, consultants, and investigative bodies, including the Joint
Legislative Audit Committee (Assemblyman Scott Wildman, chairman), the Little Hoover
Commission, and LAUSD's Internal Audit and Special Investigations Unit. The subseries also
includes reports on toxic schools and school site selection procedures. Subseries E,
Commissions, Hearings, and Investigations (1994-2000), includes
documents related to activities, meetings, agendas, and correspondence with commissions and
boards created to oversee and/or investigate school site selection, the Belmont Learning
Complex, and other education-related issues. Subseries F,
General
Correspondence and LAUSD Documents
(1990-1999), includes various correspondence and
documentation not directly related to another subseries subject.
Series IV,
Other Toxic School Sites, is divided into two
subseries: Subseries A,
General Information on Toxic Schools
(1989-2000), contains documents related to toxins in schools, but unrelated to a specific
school site. It includes information on state regulation of toxins, state regulations about
school sites, and information about LAUSD's efforts to deal with asbestos in school
buildings. Subseries B,
Individual Toxic Schools (1985-1999),
includes documents related to the Ambassador Hotel, Belmont Elementary School, Jefferson
Middle School, Playa Vista, Polytechnic High School, Towne Avenue School, South Gate, and
Suva.
Series V,
Non-Manuscript Materials, includes diagrams,
architectural drawings, audio cassette recordings and video recordings.
Series I: Belmont Junior High School, 1983-1999
Subseries A: Finance, 1983-1997
Subseries B: Agreements and Contracts, 1986-1995
Subseries C: Subject Files, 1985-1999
Subseries D: General Correspondence, 1985, 1990-1993
Series II: Belmont High School, 1983-1995
Subseries A: Finance, 1983-1995
Subseries B: Agreements and Contracts, 1986-1994
Subseries C: Subject Files, 1984-1995
Series III: Belmont Learning Complex, 1978-2002
Subseries A: Finance, 1988-1989
Subseries B: Agreements and Contracts, 1994-1999
Subseries C: Subject Files, 1978-2002
Subseries D: Reports, 1996-1999
Subseries E: Commissions, Hearings, and Investigations, 1994-2000
Subseries F: General Correspondence and LAUSD Documents, 1990-1999
Series IV: Other Toxic Schools Sites, 1985-2000
Subseries A: General Information on Toxic Schools, 1989-2000
Subseries B: Individual Toxic Schools, 1985-1999
Series V. Non-Manuscript Materials, 1988-1999
The collection is open for research use.
Copyright for unpublished materials authored or otherwise produced by the creator(s) of
this collection has not been transferred to California State University, Northridge.
Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.)
beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners.
Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the
copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Tom Hayden, 11/10/2000.
For information about citing items in this collection consult the appropriate style manual,
or see the
Citing Archival Materials
guide.
Robert G. Marshall and Melissa Landrus, 2004
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Documents