Haydock Intermediate School (Oxnard School District) |
OXNARD, Calif. -- School district officials Oxnard are continuing to investigate reports that two students engaged in a sex act during class while other students watched and even took video and photos of the incident.
Meanwhile, a mother and school employee was put on leave by the school district, starting Tuesday, while officials investigate whether she released private information about students or employees possibly connected to the alleged sex incident.
Sylvia Ramirez, a cafeteria worker at Haydock Intermediate School, claims she was fired after talking to the media about what she believes is a sex scandal kept under wraps. She stands by her decision to speak out, however.
"I was not going to stay quiet," Ramirez told KTLA. "I was worried about it because I'm a single parent."
Ramirez and other say an 8th grade boy and a 7th grade girl engaged in oral sex in the back of the room during a reading class while the rest of the class, 25 to 30 students, watched a film. They say there was a video made of the alleged incident and other students knew what was going on.
Ramirez told KTLA she saw the video and was outraged. She said the teacher knew what was going on but did nothing, and that she thought the teacher should be fired.
Now, however, it's Ramirez who's job is in jeopardy.
She insists she was not trying to "become famous," by speaking to the media. "When something so serious happens, parents have a right to know," Ramirez explained.
Employees have First Amendment rights to speak publicly, but they cannot divulge information in violation of privacy laws, said Assistant Superintendent Sean Goldman. If district officials find such a violation, he said, details will be forwarded to the District Attorneys Office.
Oxnard school officials said they've heard about a sex tape, but cannot confirm its existence.
"A serious allegation has been made that there was a sexual encounter between two students," said Assistant Superintendent Sean Goldman.
Officials are investigating to find out what did happen and whether there was any wrongdoing. Goldman said details are not being released to protect student and employee privacy.
The teacher of the reading class, who has not been identified, has been placed on paid administrative leave, pending the outcome of the investigation, according to the district. District officials say they are not sure if the teacher knew what was going on and didn't report it or just was unaware of what was happening.
The allegations came to light after a parent filed a complaint about a bullying issue, Goldman said. School administrators were investigating that matter when someone tipped them off about the alleged sexual encounter, he said.
The investigation is expected to conclude within a week, and officials said they plan to release their findings to the parents of the students involved.
Meanwhile, a mother and school employee was put on leave by the school district, starting Tuesday, while officials investigate whether she released private information about students or employees possibly connected to the alleged sex incident.
Sylvia Ramirez, a cafeteria worker at Haydock Intermediate School, claims she was fired after talking to the media about what she believes is a sex scandal kept under wraps. She stands by her decision to speak out, however.
"I was not going to stay quiet," Ramirez told KTLA. "I was worried about it because I'm a single parent."
Ramirez and other say an 8th grade boy and a 7th grade girl engaged in oral sex in the back of the room during a reading class while the rest of the class, 25 to 30 students, watched a film. They say there was a video made of the alleged incident and other students knew what was going on.
Ramirez told KTLA she saw the video and was outraged. She said the teacher knew what was going on but did nothing, and that she thought the teacher should be fired.
Now, however, it's Ramirez who's job is in jeopardy.
She insists she was not trying to "become famous," by speaking to the media. "When something so serious happens, parents have a right to know," Ramirez explained.
Employees have First Amendment rights to speak publicly, but they cannot divulge information in violation of privacy laws, said Assistant Superintendent Sean Goldman. If district officials find such a violation, he said, details will be forwarded to the District Attorneys Office.
Oxnard school officials said they've heard about a sex tape, but cannot confirm its existence.
"A serious allegation has been made that there was a sexual encounter between two students," said Assistant Superintendent Sean Goldman.
Officials are investigating to find out what did happen and whether there was any wrongdoing. Goldman said details are not being released to protect student and employee privacy.
The teacher of the reading class, who has not been identified, has been placed on paid administrative leave, pending the outcome of the investigation, according to the district. District officials say they are not sure if the teacher knew what was going on and didn't report it or just was unaware of what was happening.
The allegations came to light after a parent filed a complaint about a bullying issue, Goldman said. School administrators were investigating that matter when someone tipped them off about the alleged sexual encounter, he said.
The investigation is expected to conclude within a week, and officials said they plan to release their findings to the parents of the students involved.
