El Monte school district agrees to reforms to resolve abuse allegations

The El Monte Union High School District has agreed to implement wide-ranging reforms to settle allegations of sexual harassment, assault and abuse of students that were documented on the district’s campuses over a six year period, officials announced Friday.

Following an 18-month investigation, the California Department of Justice found the district “systemically violated laws and regulations” and frequently “failed to provide a legally adequate response” to reports of abuse, California Attorney General Rob Bonta said.

The investigation revealed years of sexual misconduct by teachers, coaches and other school staff, the AG said.

A school district spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In a statement included in a press release from Bonta’s office, El Monte Union High School Superintendent Dr. Edward Zuniga said the district had committed to “enhanced protocols, increased transparency and expanded training for staff, students and families” in order “to protect every student and ensure they feel supported, valued and ready to learn.”

“At El Monte Union High School District, student safety and well-being remain our highest priorities,” he said.

In its probe, the DOJ interviewed 26 school administrators, staff, former students and other witnesses, and reviewed 113 complaints, authorities said.

Findings included reports of a teacher’s sexual misconduct with students, spanning years, in which the district failed to conduct an investigation, according to the complaint filed in Los Angeles Superior Court.

More than a year later, new allegations surfaced about the same teacher engaging in additional sexual misconduct, investigators found.

In another example, during the 2023-24 academic year, the district received notice of allegations that a student brandished a knife and sexually assaulted a female student. The district never discussed supportive measures or the formal complaint process with the student, and never conducted an investigation as required by federal law, according to the complaint.

In many cases, investigators found that administrators had not complied with laws and regulations that require an adequate response to complaints or that it failed to properly create, maintain and retain records of sexual harassment, assault or abuse complaints, Bonta said.

The stipulated settlement between the DOJ and the district requires, among other things, the designation of a new DOJ-approved compliance coordinator to investigate and resolve complaints; the creation of a central computer system for all oral and written complaints and accompanying documents; the development of a complete list of substitutes who cannot be re-hired; and new rules and regulations to ensure compliance with state and federal law.

The school district also agreed to provide the DOJ with sexual harassment, assault and abuse complaints, and the district’s response, in order to ensure legal compliance. Mental health services will also be provided to complainants, the agreement states.

Bonta told reporters Friday he was “hopeful that the district will move swiftly to implement these reforms, that it will work overtime to turn these reforms into a reality as soon as possible. You can be sure that my office will be monitoring closely to ensure that it does.”