OAKLAND — A third-grade teacher at Lazear Elementary School has been placed on paid administrative leave while the Oakland school district investigates a complaint that he grabbed a student by the collar earlier this month, leaving marks on his neck.
Last Thursday, parents boycotted the East Oakland school, calling for the teacher's removal. They said they had made numerous complaints of unprofessional conduct, beginning in fall of 2008, but that he remained at the school. That day, a parent filed a grievance alleging physical abuse. The teacher was placed on leave Monday afternoon.
"We received new allegations," said Oakland school district spokesman Troy Flint. "Because they concerned safety-related issues, it allowed us to place him on administrative leave immediately."
The teacher is a 20-year veteran of the Oakland school district, and parents said he was reassigned to Lazear in fall
