Parent Maria Guadalupe Garcia holds a sign reading in Spanish: " We don't want new teachers," as some parents protest replacing the staff outside the Miramonte Elementary school in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2012. Allegations of teacher lewd behavior comes as school district administrators move to replace the entire staff at Miramonte Elementary School while the Los Angeles Unified School District investigates two teachers arrested last week. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)CHRISTINA HOAG,Associated Press
GREG RISLING,Associated Press
LOS ANGELES (AP) - The decision to replace every teacher and staff member at a Los Angeles-area elementary school where two instructors were charged with lewd conduct will cost at least $5.7 million.
A district spokesman tells the Los Angeles Times that's the cost of new hiring. In addition, the nearly 90 current teachers and dozens of support staff will continue to be paid even though they won't be at Miramonte Elementary School.
Superintendent John Deasy tells KNX radio that many teachers taking over Thursday were previously laid off by district budget cuts. He says all have been carefully screened. There will also be a counselor in every class for the rest of the year. The district also may face millions of dollars in lawsuit costs. At least two dozen Miramonte students have obtained lawyers.