teacher 'sent love letters' to boy - cameras in classrooms

On Monday, February, outside Miramont Primary School in Los Angeles, Ivis Urbina protested with her granddaughter Alexa Agillon. 6, 2012.
About 30 parents and supporters held protests in Los Angeles.
Allegations of child molestation by two teachers shocked regional schools.
They asked for increased communication with education officials and for cameras to be placed in classrooms and corridors of Miramont primary school. (
AP Photo/Damian dovannes)Pic.
ApSource: apofficals at a school shocked by allegations of sexual abuse by teachers are investigating another allegation of misconduct.
One parent claimed that one 50-year-
The old teacher's assistant sent her 11 love letters-year-old son.
The fourth mother.
Grader told the Los Angeles Times that the 50-year-old assistant sent at least three letters to her son on 2009, one of which wrote: "When you are near me, even if you give me the cold I like.
Don't tell anyone about this!
"These allegations were made when school district administrators replaced the entire staff of Miramont Primary School, as the Los Angeles United School District investigated two senior teachers who were arrested last week.
Mark Berndt, 61, was charged with molesting children aged 6 to 10 between 2005 and 2010.
The so-called behavior includes blindfolding children, feeding them semen, putting them on their mouths and taking pictures of them in the "game.
"The anger led two parents to come forward yesterday to complain that the 49-year-old teacher Martin Springer, who worked at school for 26 years, stroked for two seconds --
Rate the girls in his classroom.
Mr. Springer pleaded not guilty on Tuesday after being charged with molesting a girl on 2009.
The bail is set at US300, $000 ($278,000).
The police did not state the link between the cases, but the confidence of the parents was seriously shaken.
The mother claimed that, in the most recent revelations, the teacher's assistant had written a letter with the signature "Sad Girl" as she was transferred to another school.
The mother went to the Los Angeles County Security Department, where she was instructed to go to school.
At a meeting including the mother, son, teacher and principal assistant, the teacher's assistant admitted to writing the letter and said that she had a grandmother-like love for the boy.
The assistant no longer works for the school system, district spokeswoman Gail Pollard-Terry said.
The move to replace the entire staff was affected by complexity.
Some parents welcomed the decision, but others protested and distributed a petition asking for the resumption of staff at the school.
All 120 staff at Miramonte will be replaced today after two
As part of an investigation by the Los Angeles United School District into two senior teachers arrested last week, the school was closed.
"This is the toughest action I 've seen in the school district," said Terry Miller, chairman of the advocacy group "stop sexual abuse, misconduct and exploitation of educators" in Las Vegas.
Monday's decision was made earlier in the day after more than 30 people protested in front of the school gate, some holding a banner that says: "Our parents ask our children to be protected from dirty teacher behavior.
"Later in the day, 100 angry parents marched from elementary school to a meeting of nearby administrators.
Mother Maria Jimenez said that some parents wanted to be notified at least because many people thought it was fierce.
"They did it without giving us advice or consulting us," she said . ".
On Monday night, parents submitted a petition to Dean John Dixi, which had 400 signatures, calling for the door to be opened for parents to observe the classroom and act as Hall supervisors.
But they don't want a good teacher to be removed, and counsel, former state senator Martha escutiya, says he is helping parents organize a group called the mother of Miramont.
"This is not very popular," MS esutia said . ".
"Some children have established close relationships with their teachers.
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said he supported Mr. Deasy's decision to replace the staff.
"I think we need to do everything we can to make sure that these children, these students and their families get the help they need and understand how this happened," he said.
On Tuesday, the school board voted unanimously to dismiss Mr. Springer.
He has 30 days to appeal.
Mr. Berndt was fired after being informed of an investigation by the Sheriff's Department on January 2011.
Six months later, he appealed and resigned.
Mr. Deasy said that the old staff of Miramont would continue to be paid and that they would be placed in a secret location, at least by August, and that everyone had a thorough interview.
In LAUSD and other schools, the teaching staff of the school has been replaced, but in the case of long-term low academic performance.
Teachers usually have to re-apply for work and the turnover is not extended to support staff.
It is not clear whether there will be employees returning to Miramar.
District spokesman Tom Waldman said on Tuesday they were packing up the contents of the classroom and heading to a new, uninhabited school nearby.
The new principal will be a retired principal, while other new staff members, including about 90 teachers, are former district personnel who have been fired due to budget cuts in recent years, the district said.
Mr. Deasy said that the new staff were actively being inspected to understand any previous complaints against them.
Each of the approximately 90 teachers will be accompanied by a psychiatric social worker to address possible problems caused by scandals and mid-year confusion.
The cost of the plan has not yet been determined, but Mr. Deasy said that he did not spend any money to understand how abuse occurred and no one reported it.
The investigation in the area will be handled by an independent committee led by retired California Supreme Court Chief Justice Carlos Moreno, including interviews with past students and staff in Miramont.
About 350 sexual abuse investigations were conducted by lawyers and school sexual abuse specialist Mary Joe McGrath, who said the investigation may find more cases.
"It's not a witch hunt, it's just that someone is really looking at it," she said . ".
"The Box began peeling like an onion.
Always the same pattern.
"Mr. Berndt was charged with molesting children between the ages of 6 and 10 between 2005 and 2010.
The so-called behavior includes blindfolding children, feeding them semen, putting them on their mouths and taking pictures of them in the "game.
"Mr. Berndt, who has been in school for 32 years, is still on bail for $23 m and could face life imprisonment if convicted.
Investigators say they know there is no connection between these people.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Mr. Berndt and Mr. Springer have conducted at least two joint field trips in the past decade.