The California Attorney General’s office found the district consistently mishandled student reports of sexual harassment, assault and abuse from 2018 to Fall 2025.
The California Attorney General’s Office announced Friday, March 20, that it had entered into a proposed settlement meant to correct the El Monte Union High School District’s “systematic failings” with student complaints of sexual harassment, sexual assault and abuse by district employees over seven years.
“Every child deserves to learn and grow in a safe and supportive school environment,” California Attorney General Rob Bonta said at a press conference. “Anything that interferes with that, anything that jeopardizes student safety and violates a community’s trust in their schools, is entirely unacceptable.” From 2018 to fall 2025, Bonta said, the district “consistently mishandled” student complaints of sexual harassment, sexual assault and abuse and violated laws and regulations “in place to protect and address these very types of allegations and complaints.” The settlement terms include a four-year plan with oversight from the court and the Attorney General’s Office in which the district must: Designate a compliance coordinator approved by the state Department of Justice who will investigate and resolve complaintsMaintain a list of substitute teachers who will not be reappointed based on sustained violations Revise board policies and administrative regulations if warranted to meet compliance with state and federal lawsProvide annual training to students and parentsOffer extra education, and mental-health services, to those reporting violations Edward Zuniga, the district’s superintendent, said in a statement that student safety and well-being are the district’s priorities. “This agreement reflects our continued commitment to strengthening systems that support safe, inclusive and respectful learning environments,” Zuniga said. “Through enhanced protocols, increased transparency, and expanded training for staff, students, and families, we are reinforcing our responsibility to protect every student and ensure they feel supported, valued, and ready to learn.” The AG’s Office determined a substitute teacher may have been blocked from one campus within the district, but there was not a system in place to make sure that teacher didn’t end up on another campus, Bonta said. District employees are legally required to make a report when they see a possible instance of abuse. But with five employees, the AG’s office determined, that didn’t happen against another staff member, allowing that one staffer to abuse the student and harass additional students, Bonta said. “In more than 100 cases, we found that the district failed to conduct a legally compliant investigation after receiving notice of potential sexual harassment or abuse,” Bonta said. “One staff member who was a teacher and coach was put on administrative leave after reports of propositioning students for sex and grooming students for over a decade,” the attorney general said. “The district failed to provide the findings to complainants and failed to provide an investigative reports or final written determinations. They didn’t go through and complete the process.” The investigation by the state Attorney General’s Office started in August 2024 and included reviewing 88,000-plus documents, more than 199,000 district emails, 26 interviews with administrators, staffers, former students and other witnesses and a review of 113 complaints. “These are systemic shortfalls, systemic failings,” Bonta said. “They cannot continue. This settlement marks the beginning of that turnaround, the beginning of that needed transformation.”Ex-LAPD commander, allegedly found drunk in a police vehicle, wins $5.7 millionLA to raise property tax bills because criminals are stealing copper wire‘A punch in the gut:’ Cesar Chavez allegations set off shockwaves in Southern CaliforniaWallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing is nearly finished, but already small creatures are making it their home LA police union seeks call for investigation into alleged attempt by Councilman Harris-Dawson to avoid ticketCall rises to remove Cesar Chavez’ name from sites, streets, events across Southern California
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