Redlands Unified subject to 5 years of oversight by CA Attorney General

REDLANDS, Calif. — California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced on Wednesday, May 29, that the California Department of Justice has entered into a proposed stipulated judgment with the Redlands Unified School District to address their shortfalls in responding to allegations and complaints of sexual harassment, assault and abuse of students. 

Why it matters: This judgment comes following reports from a number of cases involving the sexual abuse of students by district personnel, which sparked a civil rights investigation into the handling of these complaints. The Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation found that the district violated multiple laws, including Title IX, the Child Abuse and Neglect and Reporting Act (CANRA), and provisions of the California Education Code. 

Details: As part of the stipulated judgment, the district is subject to a minimum of five years of oversight by the court and Attorney General. They will also be required to undertake and comply with reforms to ensure they can promptly prevent, stop and address sexual harassment and assault on its campuses. 

"The District is fully committed to complying with the terms of the judgment," said Juan Cabral, the Redlands Unified School District superintendent. "We take the findings seriously and are dedicated to making necessary improvements to ensure a safe and equitable learning environment for all students and staff as this continues to be our number one priority. We are actively working with the Department of Justice to implement the agreed-upon measures, as well as continue the many safety practices the District implemented prior to this agreement. We are optimistic about the positive changes these efforts will bring to our students, staff and community."

The investigation found that the district failed to designate and properly train a compliance coordinator, respond adequately to allegations, and appropriately disseminate its notice of nondiscrimination and written policy on sexual harassment. For more details on the findings, read our article about the investigation here. 

To address the concerns, the district is required to do the following:

• Hire and train an Assistant Superintendent of Compliance and Sexual Harassment Prevention to investigate and resolve complaints in addition to establishing prevention systems. 
• Develop a centralized tracking and response system as well as a database for all oral and written reports.
• The DOJ will be given all oral and written complaints regarding sexual harassment, assault and abuse. The District's response to all complaints will also be reviewed to ensure legal compliance. 
• Education and mental health services will be provided to victims.
• Students and parents will participate in an annual age-appropriate training on how to report sexual assault or harassment.
• Staff and investigators will also receive annual training.
• Students will answer an anonymous Climate Survey to asses their experience with sexual harassment, assault and abuse.
• A School Climate Advisory Committee will be established to study the District's efforts and make recommendations for further improvement.
• All district administrators will provide the DOJ with an affirmation that they understand and will follow the requirements of CANRA.
• All required notices, policies and posters informing students and staff about their rights and responsibilities are posted in the required locations. 

What they're saying: "As a parent and as Attorney General, protecting our kids is my most important job," said Bonta. "It is absolutely unacceptable that any child should be put at risk of sexual harassment or abuse while at school, where they should be free to learn and grow in a safe and supportive environment. California law guarantees each and every child the right to a public education free from sexual harassment, assault, and abuse, and today's stipulated judgment holds Redlands Unified accountable for failing to abide by the laws in place to protect our kids." 

Moving forward: The school must provide proof of compliance to the DOJ to make sure each action item is accomplished.