Survivors urge El Monte Union HS District to fire superintendent after DOJ investigation

Survivors of alleged child sexual abuse at Rosemead High School are calling on the El Monte Union School District to fire its principal and take swift action against people they say failed to report the abuse.

The calls for action come after the California Department of Justice announced last week that a settlement agreement had been approved with the school district. As part of the settlement, changes were announced, but survivors believe this is not enough.

“I’m here to represent not only myself, not the 28 years of abuse that I myself suffered, but every other student in the district who was, I’m going to use the word abused,” one survivor said.

Alleged victims of child sexual abuse are speaking out and demanding accountability following a California Department of Justice investigation that revealed what officials described as years of widespread failures to protect students. Some allegations date back to the 1990s.

SEE ALSO: California AG announces sweeping settlement with El Monte HS district after decades of student mistreatment

California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced a settlement with the El Monte Union School District following what he described as “disgusting child abuse.”

“On behalf of any survivor, whether in this district or any other, it’s okay to speak out,” another survivor said at a news conference Monday.

Rosemead High School survivors, who requested anonymity, are now calling on the El Monte Union School District Board of Education to take immediate action, including firing the district’s Superintendent Edward Zuniga.

Lawyers for more than a dozen alleged sexual abuse victims have filed a civil suit against the district, seeking unspecified damages.

“The district attorneys are trying to cover up their mistakes,” said one of the survivors’ attorneys, Michael Carrillo.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced a stipulated judgment with the district after investigators said officials repeatedly failed to comply with mandatory reporting laws. The DOJ describes a pattern of inaction, allowing allegations of abuse involving students to go unreported.

“We can’t let this happen to other girls too, so please to those in charge, there just needs to be some changes,” another survivor said.

The state launched its investigation following the publication of “Predator’s Playground,” an investigative article by journalist Matt Drange. The report details decades of alleged abuse by several staff members at Rosemead High School.

The lawsuit also calls for sweeping reforms, including stricter reporting requirements, increased oversight and structural changes to better protect current and future students.

“The district made no effort to try to resolve this issue from the beginning…in fact, they are standing in the way of these victims trying to get justice,” one attorney said.

Superintendent Dr. Edward Zuniga released the following statement following the announcement of the settlement:

“The El Monte Union School District places the highest priority on the safety and well-being of its students. The district takes all allegations of bullying, harassment and abuse seriously and is committed to continually improving how it responds to concerns and supports students in safe learning environments.

On March 18, the El Monte Union Board of Directors approved a settlement agreement with the California Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General. The agreement includes measures to strengthen existing protocols and improve how student safety concerns are handled.

As part of this work, the district will implement additional supports, including designating staff to supervise and monitor student safety complaints and investigations, expanded training and resources for students and families, and enhanced systems for reporting concerns. The district will also collect feedback through climate surveys and establish a committee focused on school climate.

These efforts aim to strengthen safe, inclusive and respectful learning environments across the district.