Sex abuse scandal forces L.A. elementary school to remove entire staff
Miramonte Elementary School is removing their entire staff while authorities investigate horrendous allegations of sexual abuse by two of the school’s staff. John Deasy, a Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent, reported that more than 120 staff members of the elementary school, which include the principal, teachers, and cafeteria workers, will be replaced as the school goes under full investigation.
Last week, Mark Bernt, 61, was charged for committing lewd acts on 23 children, ages 6 to 10, between 2005 and 2010. He is accused of blindfolding children, taping their mouths shut, photographing them, and feeding them spoons of his semen, in what he told the children was a tasting game. He worked for the school for 32 years and is jailed on a $23 million bail and if convicted, he could face life in prison. On Friday, Martin Springer, 49, was arrested on suspicion of fondling two girls in his class room. Springer has taught second grade at Miramonte since 1986 and remains jailed on a $2 million bail. To a gymnasium filled with parents, Deasy said, “We intend to interview every adult, every adult who works at that school, whether they are a teacher or administrator, or whether they are an after-school playground worker or a custodian or a secretary. I mean every single solitary adult who works at Miramonte.” Replacement teachers will undergo a rigorous screening process and a psychiatric social worker will be placed in every classroom to help children cope with any issues. School will resume on Thursday.
