The president of the Claremont Unified Board of Schooling resigned Saturday after dad and mom accused him of getting members of a highschool choir attend a personal Christmas celebration that included alcohol, shirtless male entertainers and a “soiled Santa.”
Steven Llanusa had simply gained reelection to the varsity board in November, however the 62-year-old educator resigned simply hours after indignant dad and mom at a board assembly accused him of exposing college students to inappropriate habits through the celebration at his dwelling.
Claremont Unified Supt. Jim Elsasser confirmed to The Instances that Llanusa had resigned from his put up, efficient instantly.
“The board might be discussing subsequent steps to fill this emptiness throughout this Thursday’s commonly scheduled board assembly,” he stated in an e mail.
Llanusa’s resignation got here after a number of dad and mom stated Friday that their kids, members of the Claremont Excessive College choir program, carried out at Llanusa’s dwelling as a part of an effort to boost cash for this system.
Dad and mom stated college students have been on the Dec. 3 celebration for about an hour earlier than their efficiency and through that point witnessed a “soiled Santa,” who made inappropriate feedback, in addition to shirtless male entertainers.
One guardian, Gabriel Lozano, instructed CBS Los Angeles a number of the college students have been “provided an open bar” and that the Santa on the celebration “made disgusting feedback to our kids.”
One other guardian, Sabrina Ho, additionally alleged college students have been provided alcohol by visitors.
The Claremont Police Division confirmed an investigation had been opened into a number of the allegations made by dad and mom through the board assembly however declined to supply further particulars about its inquiry.
Llanusa didn’t reply to a number of requests for remark.
Throughout Friday’s board assembly, a number of dad and mom known as for Llanusa to resign.
Kathy Archer, vice chairman of the board, stated no different present or former members of the board had attended the vacation celebration. Llanusa was not at Friday’s assembly, which had been known as to deal with dad and mom’ considerations concerning the celebration.
“We’re appalled by the allegations, that are understandably inflicting distraction, disruption and ache, as expressed in neighborhood members’ messages to the Board and Superintendent,” the board stated in a assertion.
After the assembly, members of the board met in closed session with college board attorneys concerning the allegations. Though the board just isn’t legally allowed to reveal what was mentioned through the closed session with attorneys, the board’s assertion afterward said it was encouraging Llanusa to resign “to start the method of therapeutic and returning our focus to college students and their well-being.”
