LOCAL : School Officials Head for Capitol

Efforts to end the Los Angeles teachers’ strike focused on Sacramento today as union head Wayne Johnson and a delegation of school district officials flew separately to the state capital to meet with legislators about the windfall state surplus announced late last week.

As a result of the $2.5-billion surplus, the district may be in line for as much as $48-million in additional funds this year. However, it is unclear how quickly the funds will arrive and just what percentage can be used for teachers’ salaries.

Meanwhile, Johnson today called for face-to-face talks tonight between the full school board and union negotiators. However, district spokeswoman Diana Munatones said that the next round of negotiations will take place “when the state mediator asks us, not when Johnson decides.”