Compton Community College Federation of Teachers v. Compton Community College District

Opinion

JOHNSON, J.

This case poses an issue of considerable importance to teachers and school districts. Many districts unilaterally cut teacher salaries during a contract year in order to adjust to lower revenues and then bar the teachers from recovering their lost salary payments in later years by invoking a constitutional provision which prohibits local districts from using income from one fiscal year to pay obligations incurred in another fiscal year. We conclude the answer is no and thus reverse the trial court’s refusal to grant mandamus to the teachers.

I. Facts and Proceedings Below

In…