CERRITOS : Superintendent Lucas Put on Indefinite Paid Leave
The ABC Unified District School Board has put embattled Supt. Larry L. Lucas on paid leave indefinitely.
Board President Cecy Groom offered no explanation for the move Tuesday night and the superintendent left the district’s headquarters before the announcement was made. Board members then named Deputy Supt. Ira Toibin to replace Lucas until further notice.
Lucas has headed the district since 1988. In July, the school board voted to extend his contract another year, to June, 1997, and to increase his pay by about $1,000, to $109,168.
But recently Lucas has clashed with a new majority, backed by the teachers union, that gained control of the school board in November after an 11-day teachers strike. Some board members had asked Lucas privately to leave about a month ago but he refused, his attorney, David C. Larsen, said.
The district serves Cerritos, Artesia and Hawaiian Gardens, and parts of Lakewood, Norwalk and La Palma.
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