LAUSD Reacts to Teacher's Arrest

Los Angeles - LAUSD Superintendent Dr. John Deasy says the School Board is moving ahead with their own investigation in the wake of the arrest of a former teacher at Miramonte Elementary School.

In this video report, Dr Deasy reacts to the Monday arrest of Mark Berndt and new information of sexual misconduct dating back to the '90s.

Thursday morning it was revealed that a complaint of sexual misconduct was filed in 1994. The complaint was taken by LAUSD, turned over to LA County's Sheriff's Department for investigation and finally given to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office. But charges were never filed.

The new allegations involved a young girl who told her mother she was approached by Berndt who attempted to fondle her under a desk.

This follows allegations revealed Monday which involve photographs of lewd acts committed upon about two dozen children between the ages of 7-10, and the crimes allegedly occurred between 2008 and 2010, according to the sheriff's department.

Mark Berndt, 61, is being held on $2.3 million bail.

Gigi Graciette talked to LAUSD Superintendent Dr. John Deasy who said the case has made him "sick to his stomach."

"I am sickened and horrified by the behavior of Mark Berndt. This individual and his conduct does not reflect on the quality of the teachers who work so hard on behalf of the students in the Los Angeles Unified School District.

I was notified of this investigation by the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department (LASD) more than a year ago on January 7, 2011. Mark Berndt was immediately removed from the school that same day and the Los Angeles Board of Education, at its next meeting, approved his termination.

Crisis counseling and support have been provided for more than a year to the known victims and their families, and we continue to offer those necessary services to new victims as they are identified or any student or parents who requests assistance. LAUSD officials are cooperating with the LASD in its investigation.

The District takes each and every reported act of criminal and administrative misconduct seriously, and we will continue to aggressively pursue each case to determine the truth of the matter, and initiate the appropriate disciplinary measures. The District's efforts remain with ensuring that the victims and families in this case continue to receive the necessary support from LAUSD moving forward."

Berndt, 61, a former teacher at Miramonte Elementary School, has been arrested on child molestation charges. He taught at the school for more than 30 years.

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Sheriff's Special Victims Bureau investigators are seeking the help of the public to identify possible additional victims during the suspect’s tenure at Miramonte Elementary School. Detectives can be contacted at (877) 710-5273 (LASD) or via email at specialvictims@lasd.org . If you wish to remain anonymous, call “LA Crime Stoppers” at 800-222-TIPS (8477)… you can also text the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637) or go to lacrimestoppers.org .

Source: myFOXla.com