LCUSD Says Students May Opt Out of Ethnic Slur Teacher's Class

The which came under fire for its handling of complaints about Gabrielle Leko, a math teacher accused of using the term with a student--has sent a letter to parents saying that students now have the option of taking classes from a new math instructor and avoiding Leko altogether.

This comes even as Leko remains in the employ of the district, despite complaints that she used other ethnically biased language in class and allegedly discriminated against girls. The district has mandated and remains in talks with her about the matter.

Leko was the subject of a public complaint filed by former school board member Cindy Wilcox. Since then, district officials have hired a new math instructor. Leko still teaches math, albeit with a substitute instructor in her room.

Mid-year hire Bence Szamosfalvi may teach Leko's classes as well as "courses targeted ... to better differentiate for student needs,'' according to the Jan. 20 letter sent home to the parents of Leko's students. The letter is posted as an announcement on the district's website and may be viewed here.

Superintendent Wendy Sinnette did not immediately return emails Thursday afternoon inquiring about the number, if any, of students who elected to transfer. The deadline to request the transfer was Monday.

Regardless of the transfer number, parent Debra Archuleta--who was one of the parents who --said Thursday she is disappointed and frustrated that Leko is still teaching. And she finds it "alarming'' that--in addition to keeping a substitute in her room--the district is now paying an additional teacher to teach her classes.

"That's three salaries for one position in these economic times of budgetary constraint?'' she said.

In December, the district placed a substitute in Leko's room, as another "pair of adult eyes,'' Assistant Superintendent Patricia Hager told Patch. Hager indicated that with the firestorm of controversy and accusations swirling around Leko, that it was as much for her sake as anyone's to have an additional adult in the room. 

History of Complaints

During the 2010-'11 school year, Leko referred to one of her ninth-grade honors geometry students as "Jew Boy,'' and made fun of a , according to various complaints. And although angry parents informed administrators about their concerns, it was Wilcox who filed a formal complaint last June. By October, disturbed at the glacial pace of the district's investigation, Wilcox went public.

The district in November in class, as a way to banter with the students "in an attempt to develop a rapport'' with them. She was mandated to take sensitivity training, which all district personnel had already undergone, and faced possible dismissal.

No formal action against Leko has been taken.

Believing the district's investigation for the public complaint to be inadequate, Wilcox in November filed a uniform complaint--a process that brings in an outside investigator and tackles weightier issues such as racial, ethnic and gender discrimination. The district hired professional investigator Deanne Neiman, who has no ties to the school system, to thoroughly investigate parents' and students' complaints.

As of Thursday, Archuleta, who publicly complained to the school board in November, had yet to hear from Neiman.

The uniform complaint process mandates that Wilcox receive a written report of the district's investigation and decision within 60 days of receiving her complaint. While that gives the district until March, it appears, according to Wilcox, that the investigation has been put on hold as the district continues its negotations with Leko.

"I'm growing impatient waiting for a settlement to end [Leko's] teaching positon with the district. Week after week I’ve been expecting to hear that a settlement has been reached, but I’m still waiting,'' Wilcox said.