Evergreen School District in SJ Responds to Parents

The Nov. 16 letter also states that the district’s management team was re-trained in mandated reporting procedures

The Evergreen School district’s letter last month to families details how the San Jose district continues to deal with the fallout of sexual abuse charges against a once-beloved - and now criminally charged - O.B. Whaley Elementary School teacher.

That teacher, Craig Chandler, is facing charges of five counts of lewd and lascivious acts on a child.

The principal in charge at the time was convicted for failing to report the abuse and the district is now at the center of two civil lawsuits on behalf of the victims.

“The letter was designed to let parents know about the CAPP program we are piloting in January and to invite parents to participate in the parent meeting,” said Evergreen District Superintendent Kathy Gomez. CAPP is the YWCA of Silicon Valley’s Child Assault Prevention Program designed to “empower students when they are confronted by assault from a bully, a stranger or known adult.”

But some parents have said that it seems the district is blaming the victims.

Gomez said she hasn’t heard that criticism, but that it’s hard to say we don’t want to empower our children, it’s important to give them the chance to stand up for themselves.”

The Nov. 16 letter also states that the district’s management team was re-trained in mandated reporting procedures. They were trained by the school district’s law firm.
 

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