BOARD MEMBER LYNDA JOHNSON TOOK $7,500 ‘CASH IN LIEU’ INSTEAD OF GIVING MONEY BACK TO ABC

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By Brian Hews

A public records request under the Freedom of Information Act by Hews Media Group-Community News has revealed that current ABCUSD Board Member Lynda Johnson has taken over $7,500 in “cash in lieu” payments since her election to the ABC Board.

Cash in lieu is a duplicitous way for Johnson to receive a check every month from the cash-strapped district “in lieu” of health insurance.

Every year Johnson declines health insurance coverage from the ABC, then instead of giving the money back to the ABCUSD, she accepts a check for the amount of coverage.

Upon learning that HMG-CN had a public records request, Johnson declared during the board meeting two weeks ago that she would “donate her cash payments.”

Johnson is the only board member to take cash in lieu payments since 2013.

 

Took Benefits From Employer

Johnson, who works for the L.A. County District Attorney’s Compton office as a paralegal, also took hefty benefits from L.A. County while taking the check from the ABCUSD.

According to Transparent California, Johnson received benefits totaling $157,000 from 2011-2015.

Johnson received $37,000 in 2015, $32,000 in 2014, $37,000 in 2013, $24,000 in 2012, and $27,000 in 2011.

See benefits click here.

The revelation that Johnson accepted checks comes after Johnson questioned and accused ABC nutrition employees of stealing money from cafeteria purchases.

“I want to hire another person to watch them count the money, and install a surveillance camera,” Johnson said at a recent meeting.

When asked, the District said they “never had a problem with receipts.”

Johnson is also well-known for her statements against increasing teacher salaries while voting to spend money on “shade structures” in various schools.

 

Johnson’s “Vendetta” for Being Passed Over as President

Johnson has been very vocal the past few months, with sources telling HMG-CN that she has “never got over” the Board passing her over and nominating Maynard Law as President.

Sources told HMG-CN that Johnson’s opposition to Measure AA and her alignment with Cerritos Councilwoman Carol Chen, who also opposed Measure AA, severely hurt her chance to be President of the Board.

 

 

ABCUSD Board Elects Officers, Vice President Lynda Johnson Snubbed

 

 

During the next few months, Johnson was accused of using “petty tactics” and having a “vendetta” against ABC Board Members and ABCFT union employees.

Johnson tried to block one long time teacher from his appointment to a voluntary committee position.

 

 

ABCUSD Board Member Lynda Johnson Tried to Block Union Appointee Gavin Riley

 

 

After the meeting, Johnson got into a one-sided verbal confrontation with Board VP Chris Apodaca.

 

 

 

 

Witnesses told HMG-CN Johnson hurled several f*** bombs at Apodaca, but Johnson countered that a union member refuted the witnesses statements.

 

 

ABCUSD Board Member Lynda Johnson Confronts Fellow Board Member in Parking Lot After Meeting

 

 

HMG-CN later contacted two union employees, Gavin Riley and Richard Hathaway who were the only ABCFT employees at the meeting.

Both stated on the record that they were nowhere near the conversation and that no other union representatives were at the meeting.

 

 

Union Members Refute ABC Board Member Lynda Johnson’s Account of Argument With VP Apodaca

 

 

Then two weeks ago, HMG-CN exclusively reported that the Los Angeles District Attorney commenced an investigation of the ABCUSD for violations of the Brown Act.

One ABC Board Member told HMG-CN that the investigation “had Lynda Johnson’s finger prints all over it.”

Recall that Johnson works for the District Attorney.

 

 

Los Angeles County District Attorney Investigating ABCUSD Board

 

 

Just two weeks later the investigation was dropped.

 

 

HMG-CN Exclusive: District Attorney Will Drop Investigation of ABC School Board

 

 

HMG-CN has questioned Johnson several times, and she has not denied that she initiated the investigation.

After the ABCUSD learned the case was dropped, Superintendent Dr. Mary Sieu said, “I along with our attorney, board members, and many others were baffled that it even occurred, there was nothing there. ”

Dr. Sieu went on, “we are very disturbed that the complaint painted a picture of negativity around our award-winning district that has only had positive outcomes for our student, teachers and staff. ”