L. A. school in abuse case closes for 2 days

LOS ANGELES — An elementary school reeling from allegations of lewd conduct against children by two teachers is closed to students today and Wednesday as administrators meet with shocked and angry parents.

More than a quarter of Miramonte Elementary School students didn’t attend classes Monday, Los Angeles schools spokesman Tom Waldman said. About three dozen parents and their supporters protested outside the school.

Waldman said the two- day closing “is primarily for a coolingoff period.” He said the decision to close was made late Sunday, and school system officials went ahead with classes Monday because there was too little time to get the word to families of students.

“There’s a lot of anxiety and concern with the parents,” Waldman said. “There’s concern about how many kids may have experienced bad things.”

Police last week charged Mark Berndt, 61, who taught at the school for 32 years until administrators removed him from the classroom last year, with committing lewd acts on 23 children, ages 6 to 10, between 2005 and 2010. The alleged acts included blindfolding children in his classroom and feeding them his semen in what children allegedly were told was a tasting game.

A current teacher, Martin Springer, 49, was arrested Friday on suspicion of fondling two girls in his classroom. Springer had taught at Miramonte since 1985.

Both remain in jail. Bail was set at $ 23 million for Berndt, who could face life in prison if convicted. Springer’s bail was set at $ 2 million.

Los Angeles School Superintendent John Deasy was meeting with parents Monday evening to discuss “the next steps, the plan for the school going forward,” Waldman said.

School board President Monica Garcia said the board is “appalled, extremely saddened and devastated” by the allegations.

“We will direct every available resource to assist those most directly affected by these unspeakable acts,” she said.

The school is in an unincorporated area of south Los Angeles, outside the city boundaries but within its school district. The school’s website says it serves a low- income, minority community. It has nearly 1,400 students, 98% Hispanic and 2% African- American, and all the students receive free or reducedprice meals under a federal school lunch program.

Waldman said Springer, a second- grade teacher, was removed from his classroom last week when the allegations came to light. The school board will consider firing him this week, he said.

Berndt was removed from teaching in January 2011, and he resigned before the school’s firing process was complete, Waldman said.