Schools

Updated: Complaint Filed Against LCHS Math Chair for Alleged Ethnic Slur

A member of the La Cañada Unified School District's governing board has filed a complaint against Gabrielle Leko for allegedly calling a student "Jew boy.''

Outgoing LCUSD board member Cindy Wilcox has filed a complaint with district administration against the chair of the high school math department for allegedly calling a student "Jew boy.''

Wilcox filed the complaint in June, accusing Gabrielle Leko of making the ethnic slur during the 2010-11 school year. The complaint process is on hiatus during the summer, Wilcox pointed out. She said she filed it as a member of the public, and not in connection with her school board position.

In her complaint, Wilcox, who is not running for re-election in the Nov. 8 school board race, alleges that Leko referred to an honors geometry student as "Jew boy'' in front of other students, during instructional time. The complaint also alleges that Leko discriminated against female students by intimating girls aren't as good in math as their male peers.

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If the complaint is found to have merit, Leko could face dismissal.

A 5 p.m. phone call and subsequent email to Superintendent Wendy Sinnette were not immediately returned Wednesday, but Sinnette responded early Thursday morning with a released statement:

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"Detailed allegations regarding a public complaint filed by a member of the La Canada Unified School District Governing Board against a teacher at La Canada High School have been published Wednesday evening in the local media. The media report indicates that the complaint includes the allegation that the teacher involved addressed a student in a most inappropriate manner.

"As a core value, the La Canada Unified School District is committed to both academic excellence and the promotion of every student's social, emotional and developmental health and well-being.  As such, allegations of this type are taken very seriously and thoroughly reviewed consistent with existing procedures established by the District's Board Policies and collective bargaining agreements.  The District, however, is mindful of the fact that the public complaint filed in this matter surfaces an allegation. Therefore, as fact finding proceeds, we urge that the parents and community keep an open mind until the review process is completed.

"The District is taking the necessary and appropriate steps to investigate this matter fully.''

Sinnette told Patch Thursday that there are no previously filed public complaints against Leko and "To my knowledge, no additional pending complaints.''

An email to Leko was not returned Wednesday, though the district's spam filter often precludes District employees from receiving emails in their in-box from people whom they, themselves, have not emailed. On Thursday a phone call to Mandy Redfern, president of La Cañada Teachers Association and a teacher, was not immediately returned.

"I filed this complaint...bringing these allegations to the administration's attention because I couldn't stomach this,'' Wilcox told Patch Wednesday.

"It became clear to me that parents were not going to file, and this appalling situation needs to be addressed.''

Wilcox alerted Matt Friedman, the Associate Regional Director for the Anti-Defamation League in Los Angeles. Friedman told Patch that the ADL would be closed for the Jewish holidays for the next two days, and referred a reporter to call the ADL's media liaison on Monday.

It is customary for a parent, rather than a school board member or other member of the public, to file a complaint of this nature with the school district, Wilcox said. But no parents would come forward to go on the record, she added.

"The public needs to know that [an allegation like this] is something to take very seriously, and not to be intimidated by the process,'' she said.

School board candidate Ernest Koeppen said Wednesday he has heard that Leko has made the alleged ethnic slur to a student, but has not heard the comment first hand. "I hope this allegation will be investigated through the proper channels.''

School board member Joel Peterson confirmed that the board knows a complaint has been filed, but "I am not privy to any details of the complaint.''

According to Wilcox, the next step in the formal complaint process is a hearing, with Leko and district administration.

"I am looking for assistance from the community. I am taking this very seriously,'' Wilcox said.

LCF Patch will continue trying to contact the administration and accused teacher for comment. Please check back for updates to this story.


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