San Benito High School parents concerned over staff sexual misconduct allegations

San Benito High School administration is investigating allegations that a staff member showed nude photos and videos and discussed topics of a sexual nature in front of students in the special education classes.

Parent Virginia Gardner told KION she’s disgusted to hear the claims and is concerned for the safety and well-being of her son, Craig, who is in the high school’s Life Skills classes for students with special needs.

Gardner received an anonymous letter in June detailing allegations of inappropriate behavior from staff. Now, she wants answers from the administration.

She says her son was coming home saying startling things he’d heard at school.

“He has said the word pedophile which was a huge concern. He also repeated the word screw,” Gardner said.

According to the anonymous letter, an aide showed nude photos and videos and discussed sexual topics at work.

Gardner and other parents filed a police report last month and want the aide and teacher to be placed on administrative leave.

Gardner’s son has Autism and she said he’s fairly nonverbal. She’s concerned he and other students won’t be able to notify parents of situations like this.

“He can see a lot of things, he can understand a lot of things and he can pick up a few words but just that he can’t come home and say, ‘hey mom, this is what’s happening’ or ‘you need to talk to somebody about this.’ He doesn’t have that type of protection,” Gardner said.

Education advocate Kim Taylor said parents and employees have expressed their concerns to her.

“I have had people come forward and say that they did witness that the things that are in the letter did happen. There were nude pictures shared. There was a sexual video shared. There was vulgar language shared,” Taylor said.

Taylor said employees have also come forward to her saying they were sexually harassed at the high school and that they are in fear of losing their jobs after reporting instances of sexual misconduct.

The district is aware of the allegations detailed in the letter and is conducting an investigation.

“We take these allegations very, very seriously. Of course, student’s safety is our primary objective at here San Benito High School,” said Cindi Krokower, Director of Human Resources for San Benito High School District.

Krokower said personnel and student matters are confidential so parents would not be notified about investigations unless their student was directly involved.

The school’s investigation is ongoing but parents plan to take this one step further. They want the state to pass legislation that would put cameras in classrooms of students that are nonverbal or have special needs.