Los Angeles County sues Hacienda La Puente Unified for $4 million

Los Angeles County has filed a lawsuit against Hacienda La Puente Unified
School District, saying the district owes it $4 million as part of a
jail-education program that went sour.

The lawsuit filed last week alleges that Hacienda La Puente has failed to
hold up its end of a bargain in which the county was paying the district to
educate inmates in county jails. The county is seeking a jury trial.

Hacienda La Puente officials say the district is holding onto the $4 million
because the county has refused to return $5 million worth of equipment the
school district supplied to the jails.

The agreement between the county and the district, which serves about 21,000
students in Hacienda Heights and La Puente, dates to 1973, according to the
suit. For decades, the district provided adult education classes to inmates,
including classes in computers, printing, sewing and cooking.

Read more in J.D. Velasco’s story LAWSUIT.