Entire Staff Replaced at Los Angeles School Investigating Sexual Abuse
The entire teaching staff at the Los Angeles elementary school where two teachers have been accused of sexually abusing children in their class rooms will be relocated, according to school officials.
88 teachers and 40 support staff at Miramonte Elementary School will be replaced due to the full investigation of the allegations causing a disruption.
The relocated staff will be provided support and counseling as a way to get through the situation, school Superintendent John Deasy told parents and media last night.
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The decision comes after dozens of parents and supporters gathered to protest outside of the main doors of the school earlier that day.
Some protesters were holding a banner that read: "We the parents demand our children be protected from lewd teacher acts."
The outrage follows allegations that teacher Mark Berndt, 61, performed lewd acts on 23 children who were aged six to 10.
Four days later, another teacher, Martin Springer, 49, was arrested on suspicion that he fondled two girls in his classroom.
The staff that will be replacing the teachers had already been trained to enter Miramonte's classrooms and assume the teaching duties of departing teachers.
There will also be a psychiatric social worker in every classroom to help students and staff cope with any issues that may develop over the course of the investigation.
United Teachers Los Angeles said in a statement that union leaders and staff will meet with investigators at Miramonte.
"We support a thorough, vigorous and fair investigation of all allegations," the statement read. "It's everyone's responsibility to ensure that any and all allegations are thoughtfully and carefully investigated."
Maria Jimenez, 51, said some of the parents of children enrolled at Miramonte are split over the idea to replace the teachers. "Some are in favor. Others are against it because they did this without advising us or consulting us," she said.
