MONDAY, MARCH 28, 2011
Volume 10 Issue 116
Santa Monica Daily Press
DOLPHIN DEATHS REVEALED SEE PAGE 8
We have you covered
THE YES WAY ISSUE
Teacher files appeal to block release of records BY KEVIN HERRERA Editor in Chief
DOWNTOWN A math teacher at Santa
radiation began drifting toward the mainland U.S. About 20 monitors out of 124 nationwide were out of service earlier this week, including units in Harlingen, Tex. and Buffalo, N.Y. on Friday, according to the EPA. Gaps in the system — as well as the delays in fixing monitors in some of Southern California’s most populated areas — have helped to prompt hearings and
Monica High School who was found to have violated the school district’s sexual harassment policy has filed an appeal to block the release of his personnel records. The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District was ordered to release the records earlier this month by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Ruth Kwan, who felt the public’s right to know what kind of contact Marken had with a 13-year-old female student outweighed his right to privacy. Marken’s attorneys filed the appeal on March 18. Kwan ordered the school district to keep the personnel records sealed until the appeal is heard, which may not happen for at least six months, possibly a year, those familiar with the appeals process said. Superintendent Tim Cuneo told the Daily Press that the district was prepared to release the records to parents, but will abide by the judge’s order. Michael Chwe, a parent with two children at Samohi, filed a California Public Records Act request in December with the superintendent’s office in an attempt to learn more about the investigation involving Marken. That was after more than 140 people signed a letter expressing disapproval of the district’s handling of the case, asking for more information about the incident. The school district was in the process of responding to Chwe’s request when Marken filed a motion to block the release of the records. Chwe said he has filed a lawsuit against the school district, claiming it failed to turn over the personnel file in a timely fashion, allowing Marken time to file a request for an injunction barring its release. In her ruling, Judge Kwan said the viola-
SEE RADIATION PAGE 9
SEE RECORDS PAGE 11
RUN FOR JAPAN
Brandon Wise brandonw@smdp.com Runners join together to participate in the Red Cross’ ‘Youth Run 4 Japan’ two-mile earthquake/tsunami relief fundraiser at Santa Monica Beach on Sunday morning. All proceeds will go to support Japan. Over $50,000 was raised during the event.
Gaps in radiation monitoring system detected GARANCE BURKE NOAKI SCHWARTZ Associated Press
SAN FRANCISCO Parts of America’s radiation alert network have been out of order during Japan’s nuclear crisis, raising concerns among some lawmakers about whether the system could safeguard the country in a future disaster. Federal officials say the system of sensors has helped them to validate the impact of nuclear fallout from the overheated
Fukushima reactor, and in turn alert local governments and the public. They say no dangerous levels of radiation have reached U.S. shores. In California, home to two seaside nuclear plants located close to earthquake fault lines, federal authorities said four of the 11 stationary monitors were offline for repairs or maintenance last week. The Environmental Protection Agency said the machines operate outdoors year-round and periodically need maintenance, but did not fix them until a few days after low levels of
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