Bellflower Schools : Board Rejects Public’s Call to Rescind Health Benefits

More than 100 parents, teachers and community members called on school board members to rescind the health care benefits they approved for themselves in April, but board members refused to overturn the policy.

Board President Jay Gendreau told the angry crowd at a meeting last week that the school district’s attorney advised against overturning it.

Under the new policy, board members who serve 12 or more years will receive a full package of medical, vision and dental insurance from the date of their departure until they are 65. All board members get the health coverage when they are in office.

Three current board members, including 35-year-old Gendreau, have enough seniority to qualify for the benefits. However, only Gendreau and Larry Ward have said they will accept it. Health coverage costs the district $4,000 to $6,000 a year per employee, officials said.

“Those who voted for it will be remembered as just greedy politicians,” Bellflower resident Stephen Terry said.

Board members are restricted from rescinding some actions, including those that are contractual, attorney Eric Bathen wrote in a letter to the superintendent.

Bathen described the new policy as a “contractually vested right” for a board member and advised that, because of a 1992 court ruling, a vote to cancel such a right would be invalid.