BREA

Brea Olinda Unified teachers are waiting for district officials to respond to their proposal to include preparation time in the schedule of elementary school teachers, a move that would require revising their three-year contract. A $500,000 surplus in the district’s budget has encouraged teachers to propose using some of that extra money to give elementary teachers a free period--about 200 minutes every two weeks--to prepare for lessons. Assistant Supt. Gary D. Goff did not return calls seeking comment on the issue.