Hidden camera in school: Union may sue for report CVUSD won't release
Hidden camera in classroom: Teachers union may sue for investigative report CVUSD won't release
The Coachella Valley Teachers Association may sue to force school district leaders to release the report from its investigation into a hidden camera found in a classroom at a Mecca elementary school, Carissa Carrera, the union's president, said on Friday.
Carrera said the union's lawyer has requested the investigative report through California Public Records Act and written a letter to the district asking Coachella Valley Unified School District administrators to refrain from destroying any records related to the investigation.
"We’re always working towards transparency," Carrera said. "The more information that’s shared with people, the less we have to rely on speculation and rumors."
Since the camera was discovered at Saul Martinez Elementary School in March, the district has revealed few details as to why surveillance equipment was placed in a classroom.
In a statement earlier this week, Superintendent Edwin Gomez said the district had intended to place the camera in a different school in an effort to "capture footage of suspects who previously broke into the classroom." He provided no other details about the error.
During the month between this statement and the discovery of the camera, Carrera said "People thought someone was trying to spy on the teacher." She said more transparency would have "eliminated fears."
