LAUSD To Allow Suspended Teachers To Remain At Home

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — The Los Angeles Unified school district is reportedly putting an end to its controversial practice of relocating suspended teachers to district offices.

KNX 1070's Kim Harlow reports teachers facing misconduct investigations will be allowed to remain at home rather than report to so-called "teacher jails".

LAUSD Superintendent John Deasy ordered the change, which is expected to affect about 250 instructors who face allegations such as breaking district rules, mishandling money or abusing students, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Critics say teachers assigned to "teacher jail" are often confined to a room filled with as many as 130 other teachers and are arbitrarily placed without due process.

United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) recently called for the district to end the practice of informally confining teachers during school hours following the suspension last December of Iris Stevenson, a Crenshaw High School music teacher and choir director. Stevenson was prevented from being allowed to teach after traveling to the White House to perform for President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama.

District officials said the move to end "teacher jails" was not in response to UTLA.

In remarks quoted by The Times, LAUSD general counsel David Holmquist said, "There are supervision issues. There also are other opportunities to use the space."

Holmquist also pointed out other government agencies routinely have employees wait out investigations at home.

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