Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Parents protest at school where 2 teachers arrested

Damian Dovarganes / Damian Dovarganes / AP

Students are escorted to a waiting bus as they leave Miramonte Elementary school after classes Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2012 in Los Angeles.

By Jonathan Lloyd, Annette Arreola and Lolita Lopez , NBCLosAngeles.com

Frustrated parents gathered early Monday outside Miramonte Elementary School to express their concerns about the cases of two former teacher accused of molesting students at the South LA school.

"We the parents demand our children be protected from lewd teacher acts," read one of the banners at the protest.

The protest comes hours before the leader of the Los Angeles Unified School District is scheduled to meet with worried parents about the allegations. Superintendent John Deasy has said he is "sickened and appalled" by the allegations involving former teachers Mark Berndt and Martin Bernard Springer.


The two men were arrested last week -- Berndt on Monday, Springer on Friday. The case led to outrage in the Miramonte community, and about 30 parents and supporters gathered outside the school Monday.

"We just want honesty," a parent told NBC4 Monday morning outside the school. "We just want information so we can protect our kids."

A Los Angeles public school teacher accused of engaging in lewd acts with students, allegedly had questions raised about his behavior more than 20 years ago. KNBC's Robert Kovacik reports.

Read the original story on NBCLosAngeles.com

As parents gathered outside the school on East 64th Street between Hooper and Compton avenues, LAUSD officials attended a school board meeting. Superintendent Deasy is not expected to comment about the cases until after Monday night's meeting, which is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. PT at a nearby high school.

Berndt, who worked at Miramonte Elementary for more than 30 years, is jailed on $23 million bond. He is accused of felony molestation involving 23 children, ages 6 to 10, between 2005 and 2010. The 61-year-old was arrested after a film processor at a Redondo Beach CVS notified authorities of more than 40 photographs, developed from film that Berndt dropped off at the store, that depicted children with blindfolds over their eyes and spoons of semen held to their mouths.

The photos were taken in a Miramonte Elementary School classroom.

Last week, Deasy sent a letter to LAUSD employees indicating that Berndt was "immediately removed" from the school on the same day he was notified of the LA County Sheriff's Department investigation involving the teacher. The board officially approved his termination Feb. 15, 2011, but Berndt resigned before his termination was finalized, according to the letter.

Springer, a 49-year-old Alhambra resident, was arrested and booked Friday on suspicion of lewd acts on a child. He is accused of fondling two girls in his classroom. The case against Springer will be presented to the District Attorney for consideration.

Classes at Miramonte Elementary School will be canceled Tuesday and Wednesday.

Monday's meeting with the superintendent is expected to start at about 6 p.m. at South Region High School, 6100 South Central Avenue.

More content from msnbc.com and NBC News

Source: http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/06/10332533-parents-protest-at-school-where-2-teachers-arrested

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