Long Beach, CA – The Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD) has placed a teacher on administrative leave after the educator allegedly shared an image of a Black child wearing an ankle monitor, comparing it to a children’s toy package.
Incident Details
The image was reportedly shared in a teachers’ union bargaining team group chat in May, accompanied by the message: “We need this for our runners!”
Teachers familiar with the chat told the Long Beach Post that the term “runners” is considered derogatory and often refers to special education students who tend to wander off.
Public and Political Response
State Senator Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach) condemned the post, calling it “racist” and “horrendous,” and urged LBUSD to investigate the matter promptly.
The Teachers Association of Long Beach launched its own inquiry, though the district initially claimed the incident was outside its scope of authority. However, in a statement to KTLA on Thursday, LBUSD reversed its stance.
District Statement
“The Long Beach Unified School District does not condone conduct that is disrespectful, discriminatory, or harmful,” the district said. “We take concerns seriously and follow established policies and procedures in addressing them. The district is investigating this matter; personnel matters are confidential, and we cannot comment on individual employee situations.”
Teacher’s Status
The teacher, employed at MacArthur Elementary School, was officially placed on administrative leave on Thursday. The educator has claimed their phone was hacked in response to the allegations.
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