Compton

Compton Teachers, Parents Take Protest to School Board Member's Home

A group of teachers in Compton are suing the school district, accusing it of failing to help students who have suffered from violence, and a confrontation erupted Monday when some of those teachers and some parents took their complaints to the home of a school board member.

These teachers and parents say everything they’ve tried so far hasn’t worked. So Tuesday morning they went straight to the house of a board member, and picketed outside, hoping to get his attention. Their message, they say, is that the district needs to do more to help students in crisis.

"We don’t have enough security on campus. We know that there is gang violence, drugs and we need more security to protect students and teachers," said teacher Patrick Sullivan.

The protest is part of a federal lawsuit filed by three Compton teachers. It includes stories of students traumatized by sexual abuse and shootings in their homes and neighborhoods. The district is accused of kicking the students out of several schools, and doing nothing to help them.

Jessica Escobar says the district failed in its duty to help her daughter with her learning disabilities.

"They take things too lightly when a parent comes and is asking for some help that they are federally and statutorily entitled to and for them to just say 'there’s no proof she needs it,'"Escobar said.

During the protest, a woman came out of the home and confronted the protesters turning on the sprinklers on the protesters, and accusing them of being misguided.

"The teachers need to be educated," the woman said. "They’re not, just because they have the degree. They’re just there for the paycheck."

There was a brief argument, but the woman went back into the house.

The district has not yet commented on the lawsuit, but the superintendent says it is committed to providing a quality education and will continue to do so.

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