LAUSD to institute program on raising teen dating violence awareness
Only if funds are available
LOS ANGELES, Calif.—Less than two weeks after a 17-year-old girl was fatally stabbed at school, allegedly by her ex-boyfriend, the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education today approved a resolution calling on schools to provide programs raising awareness of teen dating violence.
Although a source of funding for the proposal has not been identified, the resolution calls for Superintendent John Deasy to appoint a “prevention coordinator” to work with schools, parents and community groups to teach students about violence prevention, including dating abuse.
Each school would also designate a “prevention liaison” who would work with the coordinator to implement programs on each campus. The programs would include education on topics such as healthy versus abusive relationships, prevention activities and interventions in response to incidents of dating abuse.
The resolution notes that the programs will be implemented “if funds are made available.”
The board’s vote came on the heels of a Sept. 30 stabbing at South East High School in South Gate. Cindi Santana, 17, was stabbed multiple times during a lunchtime argument. She died later that day at a hospital. Her ex-boyfriend, 18-year-old Abraham Lopez, was arrested and charged with murder.
Lopez had been arrested days before the attack for allegedly threatening Santana and her family.
Prosecutors declined to file any charges, citing insufficient evidence.
DOWNEY, Calif.—Murder and other felony counts were filed today against an 18-year-old man accused of fatally stabbing his ex-girlfriend at their high school in South Gate, and also injuring a fellow student and school administrator who came to the girl’s aid.
Abraham Lopez of South Gate is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday in Downey Superior Court on one count each of murder and false imprisonment by violence, two counts of bringing or possessing weapons on school grounds and three counts each of assault with a deadly weapon and assault upon a peace officer.
SOUTH GATE, Calif.—The Los Angeles Unified School District plans to make crisis counselors available today to students and staffers at South East High School in South Gate, where a 17th-year-old student was stabbed to death on Friday, allegedly by her 18-year-old ex-boyfriend.
The counselors will be on campus from about 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. today.
SOUTH GATE, Calif.—A male student stabbed a female student at South East High School during a lunchtime argument today, and three other people were injured while breaking up the fight.
The female student was taken to a hospital in critical condition, according to county fire Inspector Matt Levesque. A total of five people—including the assailant—were hospitalized, he said.
Paramedics were sent to the school at 2720 Tweedy Blvd. about 11 a.m., Levesque said.
LOS ANGELES, Calif. — An educator/attorney narrowly defeated a former assistant to Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to win a seat on the Los Angeles Unified School District board, according to unofficial election results released today.
With 100 percent of precincts reporting, Monica Ratliff had 51.9 percent of the vote, giving her a 1,464-vote advantage over former Villaraigosa aide Antonio Sanchez, 31.
LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Voters will fill the final seat on the Los Angeles Unified School District board today, choosing between a former assistant to the mayor and an attorney who is also a teacher.
