header image

[Sign Up Now] to Receive Our FREE Daily SCVTV-SCVNews Digest by E-Mail

Inside
Weather


 
Calendar
Today in
S.C.V. History
November 22
1843 - Rancho Castec (Lebec-Tejon area) granted to French immigrant Jose Covarrubias [story]
Rancho Castec diseno map


Commentary by Assemblyman Scott Wilk
| Wednesday, Apr 24, 2013

scottwilk_mug2013As a father of two, one of my top priorities as your Assemblyman is public safety – no one, particularly a child, should live in fear in their school or neighborhood.

One of many issues that Sacramento has lacked courage is passing legislation making it easier to fire teachers who are woefully unfit to be in a classroom. Current state law requires an arduous, expensive and time consuming process to dismiss a teacher for unprofessional conduct or unsatisfactory performance. With teacher misconduct scandals being reported more frequently, it is clear the status quo is failing to protect our students from these classroom predators.

Like many parents in 2011, I was stunned reading the arrest account of Mark Berndt, a Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) 30-year veteran teacher, who was charged with 23 counts of lewd conduct toward students between the ages of 7 and 10. Shockingly, police investigations into Berndt’s behavior started two years before any action was taken. A few days after Berndt’s arrest another teacher, Martin Bernard Springer, was arrested and charged with lewd acts against two former students. Earlier this year yet another teacher, Robert Pimentel, was arrested on allegations he molested 20 students in his classroom. In all of these cases investigation started months, if not years, before the teachers were removed from their classroom.

Adding insult to injury is the fact that state law makes it very challenging to fire or dismiss a teacher that poses a threat to our school children. Imprudent union contracts and overly-complicated proceedings for school officials only add to the already cumbersome process of investigation or dismissal and oftentimes swift action gets hung-up in the crosshairs of administrative procedures and review.

So why is the process outrageously long and difficult? Existing law requires a school district governing board not take action on charges of unprofessional conduct or unsatisfactory performance until 45 or 90 days after the charge has been made.  Waiting up to three months to investigate a charge that a teacher has acted inappropriately in a classroom is absurd and should be reversed.

We also need to eliminate employee’s ability to remove complaints, reprimands or disciplinary action taken against an employee from that employee’s record after a given period of time. In other words, teachers who know they have received poor reviews are allowed to bargain collectively for the removal of records documenting past incidences.

Only making the process more complicated is a law that bars testimony or evidence introduced at a dismissal or suspension hearing that relates to matters that occurred more than four years prior to the date of the current suspension or termination filing. If a teacher is on their best behavior for a mere four years, their record is essentially wiped clean. When it comes to protecting our youth, records should not just vanish into thin air because of good behavior or even worse, a contract negotiation.

This is why I’ve introduced Assembly Bill 1221, aimed at protecting society’s most vulnerable by streamlining and reducing the time it takes to investigate, suspend or dismiss a teacher who has proven themselves unable to act appropriately in the classroom. AB 1221 would remove the 45 to 90 day waiting period that must occur before action is taken on the charge of unprofessional conduct. It changes the make-up of the Commission on Professional Competence from four to only one non-biased administrative law judge. Furthermore, it eliminates a current law that prohibits school districts from giving dismissal notices out between May 15th and September 15th of any given year. AB 1221 also eliminates the ability through union contracts to remove after a certain period of time from an employee’s record any complaints, reprimands or disciplinary action taken against an employee. In a time when a criminal record, judicial decision or credit score follows a person wherever they go, so should a teacher’s personal conduct record.

Last year three legislators walked out of an Assembly Education Committee hearing so enough “aye” votes were cast to pass reform.  That action cost one of the legislators her job.  It is my hope that regardless of party, legislators can come together and vote to better protect our school children.

 

Assemblyman Scott Wilk, R- Santa Clarita, represents the 38th Assembly District, which encompasses Simi Valley, the northern section of the San Fernando Valley and most of the Santa Clarita Valley.

Comment On This Story
COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.

1 Comment

  1. FiestyGirl says:

    This is a Democrat bill that Wilk had nothing to do with. He could care less about education apart from getting the headline. COC was his stepping stone to the assembly and now the assembly is his launching pad to congress. Imagine how much we would be able to get done if Wilk spent more time trying to fix a broken government, not serving his ambition.

    The fact of the matter is Wilk says nothing about protecting the rights of the unborn, standing up for the second amendment, defending traditional marriage and keeping out the illegals? You are silent Scott on all the big issues. Are you still registered a Republican?

Leave a Comment


Opinion Section Policy
All opinions and ideas are welcome. Factually inaccurate, libelous, defamatory, profane or hateful statements are not. Your words must be your own. All commentary is subject to editing for legibility. There is no length limit, but the shorter, the better the odds of people reading it. "Local" SCV-related topics are preferred. Send commentary to: LETTERS (at) SCVNEWS.COM. Author's full name, community name, phone number and e-mail address are required. Phone numbers and e-mail addresses are not published except at author's request. Acknowledgment of submission does not guarantee publication.
Read More From...
RECENT COMMENTARY
Thursday, Nov 21, 2024
The holiday season is just around the corner and it’s one of the most magical times of the year.
Wednesday, Nov 20, 2024
Supervisor Kathryn Barger commented on Attorney General Rob Bonta’s announcement that he is pursuing additional monitoring and strengthened protections for youth in Los Angeles County’s juvenile halls.
Wednesday, Nov 13, 2024
I think we’re all glad that the extreme heat of the past few months here in southern California has passed, and we are now enjoying some beautiful fall days.
Monday, Nov 11, 2024
This week, I took my Oath of Office for my third and final term as Fifth District Supervisor.
Monday, Nov 11, 2024
As we conclude the 2024 Fall season, I would like to thank all the athletic directors, school administrators, athletic trainers and anyone else responsible for helping implement and navigate our new Health and Safety Bylaws.
Thursday, Nov 7, 2024
Did you know that our local Santa Clarita Public Library offers passport acceptance services? Whether you’re planning a vacation, studying abroad or reconnecting with family, the Santa Clarita Public Library is here to support your journey.

Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
1843 - Rancho Castec (Lebec-Tejon area) granted to French immigrant Jose Covarrubias [story]
Rancho Castec diseno map
Due to construction and weather delays, the closure of the exercise staircase at Central Park, 27150 Bouquet Canyon Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91350, will be extended through Nov. 28.
Central Park Exercise Staircase Closure Extended Thru Nov. 28
Santa Clarita Ballet's 30th anniversary production of "The Nutcracker" will perform, Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 14-15 at the Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center, 26455 Rockwell Canyon Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91355.
Dec. 14-15: Santa Clarita Ballet’s ‘The Nutcracker’
Registration is underway for the College of the Canyons winter 2025 session, which boasts more than 300 class sections.
COC Winter 2025 Registration Underway
Christmas came early for The Master's University Men's Basketball Head Coach Kelvin Starr.
TMU Men’s Basketball Knocks Off No. 2, Starr Sees 300th Win
Theatre in a Week and Off Book Theatre is back with its holiday one act comedy "Holiday Hijinx" Friday, Dec. 13- Sunday, Dec. 15 at The MAIN in Old Town Newhall.
Dec. 13-15: ‘Holiday Hijinx’ Presented by Theatre in a Week, Off Book Theatre
The Santa Clarita Master Chorale presents its Silver Bell Jubilee concert Sunday, Dec. 8, 4 p.m. at Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center, 26455 Rockwell Canyon Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91355.
Dec. 8:  Santa Clarita Master Chorale Presents Silver Bell Jubilee
The holiday season is just around the corner and it’s one of the most magical times of the year.
Mayor Cameron Smyth | Experience Holiday Cheer on the Tracks
Celebrate this special time of year with the 29th annual Winter Magic Lighted Boat Parade and holiday event Saturday, Dec. 7 at Castaic Lake, Lower Lagoon.
Dec. 7: The 29th Annual Winter Magic Lighted Boat Parade
1967 - Local voters approve formation of community college and elect COC's first five-member board - Dr. William G. Bonelli Jr., Bruce Fortine, Sheila Dyer, Peter Huntsinger, Edward Muhl [story]
COC board
You can make a difference in a child or teen’s life this holiday season through the Boys and Girls Club of the Santa Clarita Valley. You can volunteer at a club holiday event, host a toy drive, sponsor a club family or make a donation.
Hope for the Holidays with Boys & Girls Club of SCV
Art, in whatever the medium, can communicate so much. It can inspire imagination, exude peace and calm, or tell the world the stories of a community and a culture or connect on an extremely personal level.
Kalli Arte Collective to be CSUN’s First Orndorff Artist-in-Residence
The city of Santa Clarita invites community members to attend the unveiling of the newest inductees to the Walk of Western Stars.
Nov. 23: New Honorees Inducted into Walk of Western Stars
Supervisor Kathryn Barger commented on Attorney General Rob Bonta’s announcement that he is pursuing additional monitoring and strengthened protections for youth in Los Angeles County’s juvenile halls.
Barger on Protections for Youth in Juvenile Halls
Every day for decades, NASA satellites have been collecting data about oceans and continents around the world.
CSUN Students ExamNASA Data on Climate Change
Kick off your holidays with a night to remember with the Santa Clarita Symphony Orchestra.
Dec. 8: Santa Clarita Symphony Orchestra Presents Holiday Classics
Music possesses power. It brings people together, stirs emotions and has ability to heal in the form of music therapy. 
CSUN Music Therapy Program Produces Successful Music Therapists for 40 Years
SCV Water recently reached several important milestones to bring the Agency one step closer to constructing a permanent water supply for Los Angeles Residential Community and Lily of the Valley Mobile Village.
SCV Water Works on Permanent Water Supply for LARC Ranch, Lily of the Valley
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Missing Person Unit is advising At-Risk Missing Person, Susan Lynn Emrick, has been located.
Update: LOCATED LASD Seeks Public Help to Find At-Risk Missing Newhall Woman
1831 - Local entrepreneurs Sanford and Cyrus Lyon (as in Lyons Avenue) born in Machias, Maine [story]
Sanford Lyon
The holiday season is a time for joy, generosity and community spirit. This year, the Child & Family Center invites you to join its heartwarming effort to bring extra cheer to Santa Clarita Valley teens in need.
Spread Holiday Cheer: Support SCV Teens with Child & Family Center
The non-profit Rancho Camulos Museum and National Historic Landmark will host a fundraising event, "Early Hollywood and its Camulos Connection" featuring Marc Wanamaker on Sunday, Dec. 8 at 2 p.m.
Dec. 8: Presentation on Early Hollywood, Rancho Camulos Connection
William S. Hart Union High School District Social Worker Sarah Gilberts was named California’s 2024 State Social Worker of the Year at an awards ceremony on Nov. 8, part of the 2024 National Association of Social Workers-CA Annual Conference.
Hart District Sarah Gilberts Named 2024 California Social Worker of the Year
SCV Water recently marked the completion of its third PFAS treatment facility, which serves its Santa Clara and Honby wells and is located north of Soledad Canyon Road on Furnivall Avenue, with a ribbon cutting on Tuesday, Nov. 19.
SCV Water Celebrates PFAS Groundwater Treatment Facility with Ribbon Cutting
SCVNews.com