New Board Majority Reopens Talks on Teachers Contract : Education: Decision provokes bitter protests by other trustees, who say there is no money to avert pay cuts. Review of land sale is also approved.

A new board majority in the ABC Unified School District voted this week to resume negotiations with teachers to settle a salary dispute that resulted in October’s teacher strike.

The majority, which wasted no time rescinding decisions by the previous board, also voted to reconsider a plan to sell land near Whitney High School.

The balance of power on the board shifted as a result of the November elections. Challenger Howard Kwon, backed by the teachers union, unseated board President Catherine Grant. Kwon joined incumbents Cecy Groom, Sally Morales Havice and David Montgomery to form a majority on the seven-member board.

The first move of the new coalition was to reopen contract talks with the ABC Federation of Teachers.

Teachers walked off the job in October after the school board voted 4 to 3 to impose a contract that included a 1.5% pay cut and larger class sizes. Teachers had overwhelmingly voted to reject the tentative settlement after learning that the district had about $1.8 million more than originally estimated. Administrators have insisted that the money is already committed to other areas.

Teachers returned to work Nov. 3 without gaining any contract concessions, but their slate of candidates swept the election in the district that serves Cerritos, Artesia, Hawaiian Gardens and parts of surrounding cities.

The teacher-backed trustees said they think money can be found to restore salaries.

A member of the district’s bargaining team was directed to contact the union before Friday and report to the board Tuesday

“I feel the sooner we do this the better. It would send a good message out to our employees,” Montgomery said.

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The decision was bitterly protested by Trustees Robert Hughlett, Dixie Primosch and Jim Weisenberger.

“There is no money. One can’t negotiate something that costs money if there is no money to give,” Hughlett said.

Trustees also discussed hiring an independent auditor to find areas where expenses can be trimmed, including reductions in management staff. No decisions were made.

During the emotionally charged, six-hour meeting, the board repeatedly argued and speculated about their ability to get along.

After a heated, hourlong exchange, the board voted 4 to 3 to review a plan to sell district-owned land next to Whitney High School to a Costa Mesa developer who wants to build 68 houses.

The board had agreed in July to sell 13 acres to Warmington Homes for $7.7 million to raise money for repairs and construction of classrooms.

However, some board members questioned the wisdom of selling land and want the deal reviewed by a new attorney. The board agreed to ask the Cerritos Planning Commission to delay approval of the development until their questions are answered.

“We’re talking about a lot of money,” Kwon said. “The deal’s already signed, but as a new member, I want to look at the contract.”

The attorney would help the board determine whether it can change the terms of the contract, he said.

A Warmington representative warned that any delays would push back construction of the $18-million project. Grading was expected to start in April or May, project manager Jay Deckard said, and the first homes were scheduled to be finished in July or August.

Cerritos planner Bob Brady said the city will honor the school district’s request for a delay. The Planning Commission had been scheduled to review a zoning change and a development plan Wednesday night, but delayed it indefinitely.

Tuesday’s hastily called meeting was the first since Havice, Kwon and Montgomery were sworn into office last week. The three abandoned ceremony and took their oaths of office away from home during a conference in San Jose so they could call the special meeting as soon as possible. They contacted Groom and asked Supt. Larry Lucas to call Tuesday’s special meeting.

During a break in the meeting, Primosch criticized the new majority’s decision to call the special meeting: “In my opinion, it was dictatorial. ‘Come to this meeting or we’ll have it without you.’ That’s not working in harmony.”

Hughlett said he had to cancel other plans to attend, adding, “It really rankles me.”