A member of the citizens’ panel overseeing the L.A. Unified School District’s expenditure of $2.4 billion in Proposition BB funds wants to assemble some of L.A.’s top architects to help design new and remodeled schools.

The proposal was made by Michael Lehrer, who is president of the American Institute of Architect’s L.A. chapter. In a recommendation to the panel, Lehrer called for convening a task force of the “best and brightest people in land use, realty, design” and other fields, “preferably paid,” to help establish a vision of public schools of the 21st century.

Lehrer would like to use some of the top-paid architects in town, including Eric Owen Moss, known for his cutting-edge designs of commercial buildings in Culver City.

Lehrer acknowledged that as AIA president, his job is to represent the interests of architects. But he says that the task force is not an attempt to bring high-paid architects aboard the Proposition BB gravy train.

“I will admit my bias,” he said. “I don’t have any compunction about pushing what I believe to be of value. I’ve seen too often the consequence of doing things without a modicum of vision and spirit. It’s spirit of place we’re creating here.”

Steven Soboroff, chairman of the oversight committee, said he liked the idea. But he said everyone would have to serve on a pro bono basis.

“None of them will be paid,” Soboroff said, adding that the concept “certainly fits (with the) goals of our oversight committee to coordinate a way to utilize BB dollars in the best possible manner.”

Moss and Lehrer said money was not crucial, and that they were more concerned with building better schools.

“In the past I’ve been paid a per diem for this sort of thing, but that’s not the issue. I don’t give a damn whether I get paid,” Moss said.

Tim Lynch, deputy city controller for the city of Los Angeles and vice chairman of the oversight committee, also thinks the task force is a good idea.

“There’s the potential to make the place more livable and to save money,” he said. “Frankly, Lehrer excels at thinking outside the box, which can mean significant breakthroughs.”

Lehrer submitted a preliminary proposal to the oversight committee earlier this summer, and plans to revisit the issue at the committee’s September meeting. Ultimately, the Board of Education would have to approve the task force.

Proposition BB, approved by voters in April 1997, provided $2.4 billion in funding for school repair and construction.