Las Lomitas School District business office starts operations Las Lomitas School District business office starts operations (February 11, 2004)

By David Boyce

Almanac Staff Writer

It will be business as usual at the new business office of the Las Lomitas School District while a complaint registered by one employee wends its way toward a resolution.

Formal operations of the Las Lomitas office began February 1 as a result of the Menlo Park City School District recently ending the agreement with Las Lomitas to share a business office.

The former joint office's five employees -- one of whom has retired -- were sent layoff notices, but were given first choice for positions in the Las Lomitas office, said De Modderman, the district's business manager. They also had the option of applying to the new Menlo Park office.

In December, a mediator met with a Las Lomitas representative and the new receptionist/clerk for the Las Lomitas office, but failed to resolve differences on salary and working hours, said Ms. Modderman. The two sides will now present their case for a hearing before a neutral representative from the public employees retirement board.

The Las Lomitas office -- located at 1011 Altschul Ave. -- has a business manager, a full-time office technician and a half-time receptionist/clerk. The new Menlo Park office will be located on the campus of Encinal School in Atherton and will employ a business manager and two full-time staff.

The business office prepares budgets and administers other matters, such as accounts payable and payrolls. An agreement between the two districts will continue in the areas of special education, maintenance operations and transportation.

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