Statement from the Board of Education Regarding Recent Events at Miramonte Elementary School

On behalf of the Board of Education of the Los Angeles Unified School District, Board President Mónica García made the following statement:

We are appalled, extremely saddened and devastated to learn of the allegations and events involving teachers at Miramonte Elementary School.  Such events should never happen, and when they do occur, we all feel the pain.  The safety of LAUSD's students is the priority of this Board and our District.  We thank the parents who are working with us.  At difficult moments such as these, we need parents to continue being involved.  Our hearts and minds are with the Miramonte school community and we will direct every available resource to assist those most directly affected by these unspeakable acts.

The Board is thankful, confident, and supportive of how Superintendent John Deasy is handling the situation.  The Board has directed Superintendent Deasy to continue to work diligently with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, LAUSD’s Crisis Counseling Intervention Services and other agencies to provide the necessary support to parents and students affected. 

The District takes each and every reported act of criminal and administrative misconduct seriously, and we will continue to work with law enforcement to ensure the safety and security of our students and campuses.  In the coming weeks, the Board will be working with the Superintendent to make all District employees even more aware and vigilant regarding suspected cases of child abuse on our campuses.  This tragic incident reminds us that reporting suspected child abuse or any criminal act is everyone’s moral, legal and ethical obligation and responsibility and highlights the need for all stakeholders-parents, students, school staff and community- to break the code of silence. 

We recognize that the alleged conduct of these individuals does not reflect on the quality of the countless teachers who work so hard on behalf of the students in our District, and we commend the vast majority of our teachers who respect the sanctity of school as a safe place for the children entrusted to them. 

The District has established a hotline for anyone to call in with information about Miramonte.  The line can be accessed at specialvictims@lasd.org or 866-247-5877. 

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