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Subscribe to RSSThe Miramonte Elementary School in Los Angeles reopens Thursday with an entirely new staff after two teachers, who have since been arrested, were accused of lewd acts involving children. NBC's Mike Taibbi reports.
Updated, 12:41 p.m. ET: LOS ANGELES -- New teachers greeted children and their parents Thursday when they returned to class at a Los Angeles elementary school rocked by the arrests of two longtime teachers on lewdness charges.
Miramonte Elementary School reopened Thursday, two days after the nation's second-largest school district closed the campus to hire a brand new staff. New employees include a retired principal and 88 teachers and support staffers who were recently laid off and were on a rehiring list.
Hundreds of children streamed through the front doors of the school under the watch of school police and some 100 protesters, who opposed the disruption of removing the entire staff for the rest of the school year.
The protesters, who included parents and students at Miramonte, held signs bashing the Los Angeles Unified School District, proclaiming "Give us our teachers back" and "LAUSD Shame on You."
"It's kind of hard," said Lorena Sorian, whose sixth-grader attends Miramonte. "You barely know your teacher, and they're gone. The kids don't know what's going on."
Sorian said the arrest of the two teachers made her think twice about enrolling her younger children at Miramonte next fall.
Sheriff's investigators, meanwhile, say they've found 200 additional bondage-style photos they believe were taken by one teacher who's accused of committing lewd acts on 23 children over a five-year period.
'Devastating'
Parents were invited to sit with their children in class Thursday to help with the transition. They will be allowed to attend the first 30 minutes of class.
Read Miramonte School Reopens Amid Child Abuse Investigation on NBCLosAngeles.com
"We want parents, as much as possible, to feel comfortable under the circumstances here," Tom Waldman, director of communications for the school district, told NBC News. "It's unprecedented. This is a very devastating thing for everybody here. Hopefully, over time, we'll get back to the business of learning."
New staff members attended orientation at the school Wednesday. They met with outgoing staff members to discuss lesson plans.
The removed staff members were transferred to Augustus Hawkins High School, a facility under construction in South Los Angeles. The Hawkins school is expected to open in the fall.
The outgoing staff members will be counseled and interviewed as part of the child abuse investigation. An independent commission led by retired California Supreme Court Chief Justice Carlos Moreno will conduct the district's investigation. Former students and staff members at Miramonte also will be interviewed.
Costs and counts
The new hires will cost the district $5.7 million, Waldman told the Los Angeles Times. The cash-strapped district will still pay the teachers and staff who were removed.
Allegations came to light last week with the arrest of Mark Berndt, 61, who was charged with committing lewd acts on 23 children, ages 6 to 10, between 2005 and 2010. He is being held in lieu of $2.3 million bail.
Later in the week, another teacher, Martin Springer, 49, was arrested on suspicion of committing lewd acts on children. Springer was charged with three counts of lewd acts upon a child under the age of 14, according to authorities.
Another student who accused Springer of fondling her reportedly recanted her story, NBC News reported. Springer was being held in lieu of $2 million bail.
A film processor provided authorities with 40 images that showed Berndt with children, some of whom had blindfolds over their eyes and spoons of a white substance held to their mouths. The substance was later identified as Berndt's semen.
NBCLosAngeles.com's Jonathan Lloyd, John Cadiz Klemack and Toni Guinyard contributed to this report, as did The Associated Press.
More content from msnbc.com and NBC News
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So...do you suppose anybody at that school had any idea anything bad was going on? From 2005 to 2010...23 children....5 years....and nobody saw anything, heard anything, suspected anything...said anything? Hope the authorities get to the bottom of that before the school system sweeps it all under the rug. After all, the press hounded Joe Paterno to his grave over not doing enough to protect college age kids....how 'bout the 88 or so school teachers of these 6 to 10 year olds that just got transferred? Just sayin.....
Grandfather- Joe Paterno already had one foot in the grave, but he turned his back on kids, he was more worried about a game then children being abused. Not college aged kids, children!
If there is indisputable evidence against these teachers, they need to prosecute them to the fullest. This stuff should not be happening, especially to kids.
Grandfather~ It is strange that they are transferring the teachers/such a huge number. What did those teachers know and what were they not telling? I posted about Maryanne Godboldo's case on another chat site and it was deleted. Claims comment was collapsed by "community" even after a bunch of likes. Google Maryanne Godboldo and see what happened to her and her child. Social services run this country. If any of these children has reactions/problems to being abused, then that child will be labelled as a problem, not that the school caused it. Why do parents have to put their children into snake pits? We should have more choice in schools we send our children to and how the tax money is spent. Remember the Texas cult where ONE parent was questioned and they came and took 400 children and prosecuted ALL the parents? Now it is the teachers' turn and they just get transferred and that is it. Hmmmmmm....
Who are these idiots with the posters standing right in front of the school? The one in the picture says "Protect our children from these animals." What's a parent to tell their child when he asks, "What animals?"
Grandfather,
Sorry, the 12 year old kid and others that Sandusky sexually assaulted were not college age.
A very poor choice of words on the banner that says "Protect our Children From These Animals". Animals don't behave like this man did. He is not an animal (in the sense that it is used here). Rather, he is a sexual deviant.
The only reason those parents are protesting is for $$$ a law suit..for gods sakes its LA..those parents never stepped in a school for their child ever! If they did half be deported!
I know it's illegal but the parents should burn this kind of vermin at the stake.....
Can the lawsuits from the illegals be far behind? First they got free education and now the taxpayers of Ca will get to see the hoochie mamas waltz off with millions...
That wouldn't even happen if these sick white trash perverts can control themselves around kids. How these people are not being held accountable for stepping over the line in the first place is mind boggling. I guess those kids with Sandusky are to blame also cuz they had poor a$$ parents putting their kids in youth centers instead of extra schooling or dance. Your idiot thinking is why America sucks and exactly why I'm taking my children away from the people that are racist, biased, and self absorbed righteous white trash perverts in the U.S.
Ok I get it now,
In most of your self absorbed white trash views, being illegal is worst than molesting children for years? Someone please tell me why this type of thinking is ok? Wasn't it just ok for americans to want OJ dead, Micheal Vick castrated, Kobe, LeBron, Tiger, etc. all broke and washed up. But sick molesters are ok, baby killers, schoolyard terrorist killers are fine bcuz the victims are illegal or not wealthy and so forth. Double racist standards always in the world for these sick a$$ disgusting people.
"white trash" ? LOL. Trash compared to what? The white race has been a greater benefactor to humanity than any other race.
OJ did not murder his ex-wife.
Google "OJ GUILTY BUT NOT OF MURDER"
OJ's son Jason is the guilty one.
Koza your wrong on that one. Asians may be, but diffinitely not the white race. They have been the destroyer of humanity, beganing with Eve.
@thepunisher -- Well, you are entitled to your own opinion, but not your own facts.
That you made your statement simply means you are not aware of the history of science and mathematics, which has been dominated by whites. Asians, no.
Without the white race we would still be in a very primitive state. Disease would be rampant. Medicine primitive. Technology primitive. Our scientific understanding of the world -- primitive.
Eve? LOL.
Just because a white person publishes an article doesn't mean he/she invented the wheel. You need to get out side the US and read other text. Many techonological and medicinal inventions were invented way before the white man even thought about it. Did you really think newton discovered gravity?
@thepunisher -- We are done. Your ignorance is manifest, and self-refuting.
Not only did Newton formulate the universal law of gravitation, he invented calculus so he could work out the consequences (Leibnitz was white too, btw). Indeed, after the Principia was published, a great majority of mechanical phenomena became immediately understood.
Outside the US? The original Prinicipia is located in England.
Regardless of your lack of education, my original statement is correct. The white race has been the greatest benefactor to humanity.
You're right, Rick....Illegals win again!!!!
This is why robots should be teaching our children.
This is why PARENTS should be teaching children; or at least playing a far larger role in their education.
Yes Jem.... because parents have never been accused of child molestation...
This is a terrible tragedy with no true explanation as to why it happens, some people are just sick.
farinha and daren haven't you seen mars needs moms. look what happened to the martians when robots raised them.
and where were all these parents before this crap happened/ would love to know how involved parents were w/ their kids and the school,,,since this went on for years and involved more than one child. Now they are sitting in class,,,,how nice. Bet it is the 1st time most have been to this school and in some cases,,,any dang school. LAWSUITS ARE BEING FORMULATED
Maybe the American taxpayers should have a "sit in" in the Congressional Halls, or better yet, in the Oval office. It is high time our government was taken back from these "elite" elected officials who think THEY are above the law just like the predators within our classrooms.
Back to the article after venting.....
Shame on the parents who came into the U.S. illegally across the fence, brought their child(ren) with them, or had a baby drop within our borders and expect nothing will happen to them (deportation), or their children (gang involvement). Shame on the parents who are now in "shock" that this could happen after not being involved in school activities but are now concerned and sitting in class. Shame on the school administrators who failed to see this coming down the road. Shame on ANY teacher who failed to report incidents (potential or not) or behavioral problems with their peers.
There is enough blame for these incidents to go around. It is going to be very interesting to see if any parent (illegal or not) sues the school, if illegal what will be done with the parent(s), and particularly if this Administration provides DOJ support for any lawsuit(s).
Ido
The parents probably WERE involved in school activities. That is how the pedophile teachers were able to know which parents had the most to loose if they did not remain silent.
The Catholic Priests screened their victims the same way; get to know the parents and target the children of the parents who are least likely to believe their children and most likely to remain silent.
I guess it's just me, but I don't understand why all the other staff is being demonized for the actions of two. I do understand being questioned and researched; but I don't understand the removal for the rest of the year. If I worked there, chances are I would never know if something was going on unless I saw it myself. Like many others, I get focused on my own work and job, and take it for granted that others are as honest as I am. Further, I don't go looking for trouble.
Those who are responsible for these despicable actions are probably well-schooled (forgive the pun) on how to avoid being caught. I'm sure many other pedophiles have shared information on the "how to's" of secrecy, and that is why the coverup was so longlived. (The whole affair sickens me.)
The innocent staff will forever be scarred by the actions of these monsters. I truly hope that they are not further harmed by terrible negative publicity that will be generated over these events.
Zapper,
Most likely a political and legal maneuver to avoid further investigations and mitigate public scrutiny. Also, to avoid lawsuits by making it appear as though they're victims as well.
I can easily see how the majority of the instructors would have no idea what was happening to their students on campus. Teachers often don't have the opportunity to get to know any staff aside from whoever is on their floor, in their building. The job is stressful and time intensive. There isn't much leeway - and frankly, very little reason - to worry about anything but your own classes.
There are those that claim that people *had* to know what was going on. Maybe a couple people had suspicions, and I'm sure that there were at least a few incidents that were reported and the reports weren't acted upon, but by and large that wouldn't be the rank-and-file instructors' faults.
After all, how many of us with an office bigger than 15 even know our coworkers' last names?
Wonder how many of those parents with signs outside the school have gone to Parent-teacher meeting or taking part in activities that lets them know the teacher that teaches their children. How many of those parents question their children about their day that evening at the table, or look at the homework? Don't use the ''I work'' as an reason, my folks worked too,but homework and any beefs we had was questioned. also my folks knew that we were not the angels all the time. This event is real bad and a clean sweep is really the only fair way to weed out the creeps that have got their claws into the system under the protection of the Teachers Union. The kids will survive, Had you rather have a new teacher or that scumbag with your child?
So now we have 150 teachers in limbo still getting paid and drawing benefits from the tax payer,while 88 more have been rehired and drawing pay and benefits,why were not just the molesters jailed?
Given the means used by the molesters, it is not likely the investigators know who all the molesters are.
It certainly doesn't mean all the molesters were at this one school. Let's hope that these two were all there was to find. As noted in my above post, the other teachers and workers were probably just as appalled as everyone else. It's not fair to demonize the innocent.
@ zapper45701: You didn't see the earlier article that reported that some of the parents are illegal aliens and were afraid to speak up out of fear of being deported ? It's sad to think that these children had to endure this because the person who is most responsible for their safety and well being didn't speak up because they were afraid of losing their free govt. cheese.
Illegal aliens take the jobs Americans won't or CAN"T do. If a parent keeps silent because they fear loosing a minimum wage job gutting fish for ten hours a day, imagine what corner of hell they fear getting deported to.
How can they protect their children if they get deported?
When did this Article ever become about immigration you sons of bitches.
I can't help that people are illegal aliens; nor can the innocent staff at the school. It's not fair to penalize the innocent staff because of two pedophiles. If the parents and children are illegally in this country, that's a whole other ballgame; however, it shouldn't allow for children to be molested.
I could bring up all the pros and cons of the illegal alien issue, but that's not what this story is about. However, our government really needs to step up to the plate and address the issue, instead of sidestepping it. If children are being molested because of our government's failure to make up its mind--one way or the other--then our government should hang its head in shame.
I know what I think about the whole mess, but I'm not a legislator who has the power to do something about the problems. Truly, I'd like to know what they are waiting for.
This article is about immigration because the molesters were taking advantage of children for years knowing the parents would not report them for fear of deportation.
The same thing is probably going on at other schools where large percentages of the students come from parents who are illegal aliens.
@ Jem
with close to 30 million people unemployed...you don't think ANY of them would take a minimum wage job?
They CAN'T do these jobs because the employers hire illegal immigrants to save money.
They wouldn't want to get deported and go back to a place where they actually have to work for a living and can't breed and live off the system. They feel they are 'entitled' and I lived with the 'I didn't move, the border moved' mentality long enough before I got out of California. That State is broke (and now the LAUSD will be broke). Keep enabling them, that's right. Glad I'm not paying for it anymore.
That school look's like it's in Mexico somewhere. I never saw so many Mexican's here in one school. Are we educating Half of Mexico?? No wonder the scholl system in this country is broke. We ought to send Mexico a bill for educating so many of their people. It's crazy.
Your spelling ability shows that you must've been educated in a school of the same calibre that you've assigned to this one.
Were the school district administrators removed as well or only the lowly teaching staff, most of whom had no involvement in the scandal.
"Both teachers have been fired."
Will they still get their pensions and health insurance?
Why do you Republican Scum always have to make every issue about race or immigration do you have to cry when your taxes are to high or your Rich friends have to pay a little bit more divide and conquer right.
It is strange that they are transferring the teachers/such a huge number. What did those teachers know and what were they not telling? I posted about Maryanne Godboldo's case on another chat site and it was deleted. Claims comment was collapsed by "community" even after a bunch of likes. Google Maryanne Godboldo and see what happened to her and her child. Social services run this country. If any of these children have reactions/problems to being abused, then that child will be labelled as a problem, not that the school caused it. Why do parents have to put their children into snake pits? We should have more choice in schools we send our children to and how the tax money is spent. Remember the Texas cult where ONE parent was questioned and they came and took 400 children and prosecuted ALL the parents? Now it is the teachers' turn and they just get transferred and that is it. Hmmmmmm....
Wow... this discussion has been all over the place. Dear Teachers, life is not fair and this is the first decision by the teachers union that is actually correct. Parents, You DO NEED to be more involved in your children's education, stop being horrible parents and blaming all of your problems on others. If you are illegal, you shouldn't be here anyways and you can't blame anyone else for your choices. And, I'm tired of paying for your kids to go to school for free.
Anyone who tells you that "Illegals do work that American WON'T" are asinine. Illegals will do them for much lower wages and horrible conditions which is why we need to hold the farmers accountable for the work conditions they provide JUST LIKE WE DO WITH ALL OTHER BUSINESSES IN THE US! There are standards that we live up to every day that I repeatedly hear people disregard because it takes away their civil rights, or it's not fair, or whatever the excuse of the day is.... my feelings are hurt. Shut up and go to work (if you don't have a job, go do temp work, take the pay cut and hold your head up that you didn't take the hand out from the government and suck that dry too), if you have kids support them, If you make life choices that screw up your life (that sucks) but you made those decisions and have to either choose to make your life better or wait in the park with all the other losers who want to chant stupid nonsense catch phrases. We are better than this, way better, and it's about time that we pulled up the boot straps and got to work (last time I checked, it didn't cost anything to pull the weeds from in front of your house or whatever. STOP WATCHING THE CRAP ON THE TV TELLING YOU HOW TO BE MORE LAZY! WHO CARES IF THAT BUM "IS NOT THE FATHER" ON MAURY. No one is going to help you but you. Feel free to wait and see but you'll probably be a really old person wondering where your life went wrong, complaining about it then too..... Everyone has an excuse and you can let that hold you back or work your whole life to continually fix yourself and be the best person you possibly can be.
As a person with no children of my own; I am sick and tired of paying for ALL your children to go to school for free whether your legal or not. Socialized education is theft regardless of your immigration status.
...well you just sound like a ray of sunshine, now don't you... ...and I'm curious to know how you received your education (disregarding the fact you do not know the difference between your and you're)
People that didn't have children paid for YOUR education JEM. YOU benefited from the "socialized education" you are speaking against. Hypocrite.
I have to agree with JEM, this is theft. I received my education through catholic school system, paid for by my hardworking parents and scholarships. They not only paid for my education, but also into the social system for children they do not know. I too have no children and feel that I am pissing away money knowing how much we pay into the system and looking at the results coming out.
Just from an investment point of view, if I was putting money into a fund that continually gave me a negative ROI, I would bail out. With this, not only can we not bail out, we are forced to pay more and still see the same putrid results. Tell me how I have benefited?
jem was home schooled in some back woods. jem food for thought, didn't you know you must first find a mate of the opposite sex in order to conceive.
and whitemenace, if you cannot see how you benefited, you sir/m'am need to go back to school, cause your catholic education did little for you.
If both of you don't want to pay taxes to fund schools you don't have to. Simple don't buy anything, don't work.
hey punisher, since you are so brilliant, explain to me how I have benefited from paying into a school system that ranks 30th among other states yet ranks in the top 10 for cost per student and as a country we are lagging behind the majority? Explain how we are the super power, yet are failing to educate our future? Please enlighten me since it is not a funding issue.
As far as where my education has gotten me...why don't you ask the 500+ employees that work for me? And by the way, you have just proven my point. We are forced to pay into to the school system yet have to take the horrific results with a smile on our face, then listen/ read complete idiocracy from the likes of you.
Blue Rose of Texas
My parents would be the one's guilty of theft; not me. My parents would be hypocrites if they made such statements, but I had no part in the decision.
Besides; given how great a failure our public education system is and the degree of damage it is doing to the children incarcerated in it, privatizing our education system seems like a good idea for multiple reasons.
Do a Google search for "BALL TAPPING" and "DROPOUT FACTORIES" and see just how far our schools have sunk. I am very glad my god-children go to a private school.
umm white menance, your statement of 500+ employees just proves my point. If it is true, where the hell did they get their education, or did you just hire based on being home schooled or not schooled at all. So without educated employees, you think your so called company would get far? Oh wait, I see you run a farm......no education needed. My bad. According to your opinion, only the elite and wealthy who can afford and education be the only ones educated?
Bottom line, if you don't like it, well I don't think African countries have much of an education tax. You can move there.
I see I struck a nerve punisher. Where did I say elite or wealthy? or where did I imply such a statement?. My parents worked for a living and I got scholarships. You don't have to be elite or wealthy, you just have to earn it. Apparently you were not so lucky to have any redeeming qualities to get scholarships and maybe you are just so unhappy with the life you have chosen, you have to use this site to bash on others. That is most likely the root cause.
God bless and good luck.
Is anybody thinking about the victimized children, the ones that we know of and the ones who are to afraid to tell anybody?
Miramonte is spanish for "mounting youngins"
bad taste in humor dude. may your number two be pluged.
from your name punisher, it figures you may be doing the plug(g)ing :-)
Only if it involves a baseball bat.
This is never going to stop because of all the sexual predators AND the sick homosexuals in this country.Their morals are non-existent and there are too many groups and lawyers who care more about their rights than little children's safety and welfare.They would selll their own kids to protect these sick people. I say this country needs to clean out the jails of these people by more direct methods,hint hint.
how do you know those homosexuals fell ill? why are they sick? ...and also, when did you decide you were not homosexual and were going to be straight. I mean, it is a choice right? ...when did you make your choice?
You forgot to add raving bigots like yourself to that list.
Our Judge's and government is telling us that being Gay is normal and acceptable lifestyle. Goes to show how much our Judge's and Government know's. They will pander to anybody for a vote.
This article PROVES whats bad in this Country. This is terrible that children are subject to PERVERTS that prey on children. But it also proves how deeply these ILLEGALS are taking advantage of our inability to protest AMERICANS of the abuse that goes on by BOTH PARTIES. why are we paying for people that do not belong here? We spend BILLIONS to support,Educate and promote more ILLEGAL entry. When are we going to hold these Politicians to responsibility? this is MONEY that belongs to the AMERICAN CITIZENS that are entitled to these benefits. When you see like I do that OUR CITIZENS are denied BENEFITS that are given freely to people that do not belong here, Maybe you will understand.
So they fire all of the teachers who had no idea what was going on? Yeah, that makes perfect sense. I am sure this transition will be completely smooth for all involved.
Lauren, Why not reply to the article? In its full content?
I have to wonder how this could go on for so long with so many children involved (in a classroom!) and no one knew or said anything? I'm thinking there's a big cover up going on here and that's why all these teachers got moved.
Because they can prey on the Illegals because they are afraid to come forward, Or do you LIBERALS not understand that. I as an OFFICER have to deal with this on a daily basis. What do you people not understand? YOU are not helping these people. They do not belong raising their children on our dollars in a underground complicity.
An officer in what the clown army?
That's whats up? Oh,SHUT up!
Its a lame argument already,geez. Dont start with that crap again. Everyone knows already.They are sick because they like kids,and boys and putting their things where they dont belong. moving on...........
realist, That step up and call for tighter sentencing against pedophiles. I am sick of having to try and track these people when they should not be in society to begin with.
it sounds like realist could stand to put its "things" somewhere....anywhere....
Gee,maybe all of the teachers belonged to the Catholic Church.
realist, or maybe they are LIBERAL and do not believe in GOD. I am not religious but I sure am sick of the LIBERAL mindset.