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Claremont Unified school board members are calling on one of their own to step down after parents say high school students were exposed to inappropriate behavior at an off-site holiday party at the board member’s home.
Police, meanwhile, are investigating allegations of misconduct tied to the party hosted by Steven Llanusa, who won reelection to the Board of Education in November.
At a special board meeting that was livestreamed on Friday, Dec. 9, a half-dozen parents said their children, part of the Claremont High School choir program, performed at Llanusa’s home on Saturday, Dec. 3, to raise money for that program.
At the party, parents said, the students were exposed to adults who were inappropriately dressed and some were offered alcohol.
“I’m truly disgusted in Mr. Llanusa’s behavior,” said parent Gabriel Lozano, whose child is a member of the choir group. He called on the school district to take action against Llanusa.
Llanusa, president of the school board, did not attend Friday’s meeting due to the nature of the allegations, district officials said.
When reached for comment Friday afternoon, Llanusa said, “On advice of counsel, I can’t comment on anything involved in an ongoing investigation.”
The school board met in closed session Friday, according to board Vice President Kathy Archer, to discuss the allegations with legal counsel and Superintendent Jim Elsasser. Archer said no current or former board member other than Llanusa attended the Dec. 3 event.
In an email to the Claremont Unified community late Friday afternoon, Archer said the Board of Education is “appalled by the allegations, which are understandably causing distraction, disruption and pain, as expressed in community members’ messages to the Board and Superintendent.”
The allegations are being taken seriously, Archer wrote.
“Though the board cannot require Mr. Llanusa’s resignation,” she continued, “we encourage him to do so in order to begin the process of healing and returning our focus to students and their well-being.”
If Llanusa does not step down voluntarily, it would be up to voters to remove him, according to Todd Robbins, legal counsel for Claremont Unified. At the meeting Friday, Robbins said only voters can remove an elected official from office through the recall process.
Parent Nicole Ouellette on Friday complimented the students for their handling of the situation Dec. 3.
“My daughter is choir president and she (and others) stepped in and acted like the adults that night,” Ouellette said, echoing other parents’ calls for Llanusa’s resignation.
An investigation is underway, Elsasser confirmed.
“I assure our school community that we are taking these allegations extremely seriously, which prompted us to immediately engage the Claremont Police Department, (which) is now actively investigating this concerning situation,” Elsasser said in a statement.
“The district and school administration have taken steps to support and protect our students directly impacted by this incident, and we will continue to provide necessary supports,” the statement says. “Additionally, we have been in touch with the students’ families to ensure they are aware of our actions to investigate the matter.
“Our paramount priority is to provide a safe and stable environment for all our students to learn and participate in extracurricular activities,” the statement continues, “and to this point, I want the Claremont school community to be assured that we will not condone any inappropriate behavior by adults toward our students.”
Claremont police Lt. Jason Walters confirmed Friday morning there is an active investigation concerning the Claremont High choir members. Walters did not reveal further details except to say no one had been arrested.
