Santa Maria Sun / News

Cabrillo High teachers stay home during student's return to class

BY JEREMY THOMAS

Nearly half of Cabrillo High School’s teachers skipped work on Sept. 2, the day of the return of a student allegedly involved in a physical altercation with the school’s head basketball coach, Gary West.

A total of 29 of the school’s 65 teachers stayed out that morning, citing “personal necessity” time, according to Lompoc Unified School District Superintendent Greg Kampf.

“We had a tip that there might be a lot of folks absent [that day], so we started monitoring our computerized phone system,” Kampf said. “We were able to mobilize and get enough fully credentialed substitutes to come in.”

   The teachers returned to work
the following day and won’t be
disciplined because the district allows teachers to take personal time off without penalty, unless it’s used for personal gain or vacation. The time will be charged to the teachers’ sick leave.

   The school had suspended the unidentified male student for three days following an alleged scuffle with West, an All-Area Boys basketball coach, outside a school classroom on Aug. 25.

   According to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department, the incident resulted in the student receiving a “puncture-type” wound on his left shoulder and a cut on his left forearm, a result of contact with broken glass.

   Sheriff’s deputies met with the student’s parents and school principal Lore Desmond, and the department is currently investigating the incident. The department will file a report with the District Attorney’s office, which is also investigating the case, to determine whether charges will be filed.

   West, entering his 10th year as the Cabrillo head coach, was placed on administrative leave pending the results of the investigation and review. The student was suspended after the boy’s parents declined to remove him from school.

As of press time, the district was conducting its own investigation and awaiting a report from the District Attorney’s office before considering whether further punitive action will be taken, Kampf said.

“It’s been a difficult week for a lot of folks,” Kampf said.