Parents & Community Members Outraged, Claim Local School District Hid Teacher Misconduct and Death Threats

As Sandusky report is released, SoCal parents and community members accuse
ABC Unified School District with repeatedly concealing facts of kindergarten teacher’s lewd and lascivious charges and death threats to avoid bad publicity

Activists launch reformabc.blogspot.com in an effort
to apply heat to silent board members after video showing district superintendent unable to answer question on whether or not reporting teacher death threats is a ‘good thing’ and prior knowledge of teacher’s criminal history

CERRITOS – Parents and concerned community members are outraged over the response of the ABC Unified School District ( Artesia, Cerritos, Hawaiian Gardens, Lakewood, Long Beach, Norwalk, and La Mirada)  following published news reports (Long Beach Press-Telegram, July 4, 2012) of an alleged cover-up by district officials after a kindergarten teacher made public death threats towards two of his colleagues. On January 26, 2010, kindergarten teacher Kevin Kirby who had recently been re-assigned to Stowers Elementary School in Cerritos after being charged with 2 counts of lewd and lascivious behavior and convicted of trespassing in the City of Long Beach, made death threats against two other teachers to then-principal Eileen Blagden.  When Blagden reported the incident to District officials, she was told to keep her mouth shut and ‘tell no one’ of the incident.  Blagden, who by law is a mandatory reporter, reported the incident to police and alerted the teachers in danger.  Less than a week later, Kirby, the teacher, was offered a cash settlement to leave the District quietly and Blagden was put on administrative leave for three months before being demoted back to a teaching position.

"I was told (by an ABC Unified School District employee in the Human Resources Department) not to say anything or tell anyone," Blagden said.

"But I thought I was protecting the students and teachers by going to the Sheriff's Department. I figured the district would see my side of it."

A La Mirada resident and mother of two, Blagden hired a lawyer and filed a lawsuit against ABC Unified, alleging retaliation for whistle-blowing.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Joanne O'Donnell denied the school district's motion for a summary judgement and set a jury trial for Oct. 31.

Lakewood resident and community activist Larry Andre said, “unfortunately in this matter we have polar extremes.”

“We have elected and appointed officials who were elected and appointed to act in the best interests of the children, their parents, teachers, and the community and we have parents, teachers, and specifically Mrs. Blagden, doing what’s right and and being punished for it.”

Damaging video has been released by Eileen’s attorney of ABC Unified Superintendent Mary Sieu who had repeatedly declined to comment on the case, citing confidentiality in personnel matters.

Sieu, who officially replaced retired former Superintendent Gary Smuts this month, is seen being interviewed by Blagden’s attorney Ron Wilson.

When asked if whether or not reporting a death threat made by a teacher against other teachers while on campus is a good thing, Sieu replies, “I do not know how to answer that question.”

In another video, Sieu confirms that Dr. Carol Hansen, director of Human Resources for ABC Unified School District told Blagden not to tell anyone about the death threats made by a kindergarten teacher against two other teachers.

Sieu also goes on to explain that because kindergarten teacher Kevin Kirby’s charges for lewd and lascivious behavior was with an adult and not a minor, even though his conviction for trespassing resulted in him being banned from within 100 yards of public parks, libraries, and other entities in the City of Long Beach, that it didn’t meet the standards for any action on behalf of the school district other than his being transferred to Stowers Elementary School District.

Recently retired ABC Unified Superintendent Dr. Gary Smuts admitted under oath prior knowledge of Kevin Kirby’s criminal history.

Parents and community members have vowed to up the pressure on the school district and board members—including protesting outside of district headquarters and possible recall campaigns—in advance of the upcoming school year for changes in policy that are clearly needed to protect students, teachers, and principals like Mrs. Blagden.