Los Angeles Removes Entire Staff From Troubled School

In the wake of two independent molestation scandals at one of L.A.’s poorest elementary schools, school district Superintendent John Deasy announced that he is temporarily replacing the entire staff—teachers, administrators, janitors—while he tries to make sense of the situation.

Two teachers at Miramonte Elementary School have been accused of sexually abusing their students. Parents staged a protest Monday while police continued to investigate.

The Los Angeles Times reports that the Miramonte staff will be moved en masse while temporary educators are brought in.  —PZS

Los Angeles Times:

The move could be temporary. Many, maybe all, of the current Miramonte staff will be returned to the school eventually, officials said. In the interim, their places will be filled by teachers and other workers on a rehiring list.

The Miramonte staff will continue to be paid and for the time being will move to a nearby campus that is under construction.

Miramonte will be closed for the next two days during the transition. Officials plan to have the new teachers and administrators in place by Thursday. Once students return, each will be interviewed by the district, and a psychiatric social worker will be present in every classroom, Deasy said.

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AP / Damian Dovarganes

Sheriff’s deputies stand outside Miramonte Elementary School south of downtown Los Angeles on Monday.