EL CERRITO (BCN) -- Portola Middle School's principal and assistant principal returned to work Friday after being put on paid administrative as authorities investigated the alleged rape of a seventh-grade girl on the El Cerrito campus last week.
West Contra Costa Unified School District spokesman Marin Trujillo said the pair resumed normal duties, and that the school district continues to work "hand-in-hand with the Police Department" in investigating the reported rape Dec. 10 on a stairwell at the campus at 1021 Navellier St.
A 14-year-old boy allegedly raped the 12-year-old girl between 2:40 p.m. and 2:50 p.m. on the stairwell, which was empty because classes were in session. Both students apparently had a reason not to be in class at the time.
During the assault, another student entered the stairwell, witnessed what had happened and told a school resources officer, El Cerrito police Cmdr. Michael Regan said.
Police arrested the suspect at his Richmond home that night. He was taken to juvenile hall in Martinez and has been charged with rape and false imprisonment.
Principal Denise VanHook and assistant principal Matthew Burnham had been put on paid administrative leave while officials investigated why the students didn't have some sort of supervision.
Trujillo said he could not comment on personnel issues and what factors went into deciding to allow the school administrators to return to the job.
Regan said Friday police found nothing that showed school staff had acted inappropriately.
Trujillo said the incident has prompted school officials to examine their policies of supervising students. Starting this week, students must be escorted by a school staff member whenever they need to leave class, aside from passing periods, he said.
The school district is also continuing to investigate the apparent breakdown in supervision.
"The investigation continues to be ongoing," Trujillo said. "We're taking it very seriously."
Regan said police have learned the victim had complained to school staff about the suspect prior to the alleged rape, and that police are investigating the validity of the complaint. He wouldn't elaborate on the nature of the complaint, other than to say it's still under investigation.
(Copyright 2009, Bay City News, All rights reserved.)
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| 12/21/2009 11:59:24 AM
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Anonymous
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| None of the school staff "allowed" students to have sex. These 2 kids were supposed to be in their classroom or on their way to where teachers who issued the hall pass directed them to go. The school is very strict about kids being in the halls during class time. I know because I have seen kids get in trouble for being in the halls. They were only alone for perhaps 20 minutes (at most) before being discovered. The rape charge makes sense because of her age but false imprisonment? I'm baffled by that one. The student who intervened and the student who reported it are heroes. Everyone is blaming the school, the district, the administrators, the parents, society. The blame rests squarely on the student who is accused, if he is found guilty. He is already in jail. I hope he gets a fair trial and there is a thorough investigation. A lot of folks think teenagers are evil and the media hype is just whipping up hysteria. |
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| 12/19/2009 8:57:58 AM
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Mother of 3
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| for the pricipal or vice principal to be put on paid administrative leave anyway. Let this be a wake up call for them all within the WCCUSD. Site supervisors need to have a training every month or so on what to do and what not to do. It is not ok for students to roam the halls when they should be in class, it is not ok for 10 to 17 year old kids to have consensual sex in any school, park or church for that matter, it is not ok for anybody, including prostitutes to be forced to have sex or be touched inappropriately, no means no and last it is not ok for an adult to justify any type of this behavior, especially if they are a KID, come on now. |
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| 12/18/2009 6:02:37 PM
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Anonymous
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| I really want to hear more about the complaint. These 2 administrators work VERY hard to address issues immediately, especially the Vice-Principal. I'm so glad they are back and so is my Portola student. |
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