Can I insert a paragraph after table in layout mode Pages '09?

I've searched online and in the manuals. I've been using WP & layout with Macs since 1986. I'm at a loss.

My fairly complex document mixes WP and layout modes: there are 7 narrow columns showing tabular data (think transit schedules). The tables are one column wide and as needed rows deep. I want to break the columns earlier than the bottom margin. I'm using Insert -> Column Break to do so. This works fine when my cursor is in running text. But Pages doesn't permit me to do that when my cursor is in a table cell (command is dimmed).

It seems that the "Format -> Table -> Convert Table to Text" command only works on an entire table.

Is there a command which would permit me to split a table in two: position cursor in cell, make just that cell text, leaving cells above as upper new table and cells below as lower new table?

(I did try using "repellent lines" — 1pt horizontal objects with wrap set to the fourth value. While this did force column breaks, it was very tricksy, and any change to the document would required a lot of manual fiddling.)

Annoying workaround: copy the table, delete later cells, paste in, insert column break. Paste in copy from first step, delete earlier half, paste in, insert column break for next table.