News Summary
Parents of two 9-year-olds at El Rodeo Elementary School have filed a civil rights lawsuit against the Beverly Hills Unified School District. The lawsuit alleges that school officials failed to protect the children from persistent sexual harassment by another student. Despite reports made to school authorities, including the former principal, the district is accused of negligence and indifference. New leadership has since initiated a Title IX investigation, but parents express concerns that adequate protective measures remain absent to safeguard students in the future.
Beverly Hills, CA – Parents of two 9-year-old students at El Rodeo Elementary School have filed a civil rights lawsuit against the Beverly Hills Unified School District (BHUSD), alleging that school leaders failed to adequately protect the children from repeated sexual assaults and harassment inflicted by another student. The lawsuit highlights significant concerns regarding the district’s handling of such incidents and is part of an ongoing series of lawsuits against BHUSD amid increasing scrutiny of leadership within the district.
The alleged misconduct reportedly occurred on campus between November 2024 and March 2025. The complaint details that the offending student engaged in inappropriate behaviors, including touching classmates’ genitals, making sexually suggestive gestures, and self-exposing. Additionally, the student reportedly forced other classmates to kiss each other and taunted them afterward.
Parents of the victims assert that they reported all incidents to BHUSD employees, including then-principal Sarah Kaber and director of student services Benjamin Wardrop. Despite these reports, the lawsuit claims that the school failed to initiate a Title IX investigation, despite parent requests. Title IX is a federal civil rights law designed to protect students from sex-based discrimination and harassment in educational settings.
Subsequent to the departure of Kaber and then-Superintendent Dr. Michael Bregy, new Superintendent Dr. Alex Cherniss allegedly took action by suspending the perpetrator and initiating a Title IX investigation. The lawsuit further stipulates that the district’s previous inaction and handling of the cases amounted to “deliberate indifference.”
Attorney Christopher Frost, representing the parents, characterized the lawsuit as a last resort after all other remedial actions were exhausted. He emphasized the necessity for BHUSD to implement appropriate protective measures for students. The lawsuit also claims negligence and carelessness on the part of BHUSD employees, which enabled the harassment to continue for months.
The emotional impact on one of the victims was noted in the lawsuit, detailing difficulties such as sleep disruptions and a withdrawal from school activities. There have been reports indicating that BHUSD staff reassured parents by stating that the incidents had been documented and that they were working collaboratively with the perpetrator’s family.
While actions were eventually taken by Cherniss, Frost indicated that adequate safeguards are currently not in place to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future at El Rodeo Elementary School.
BHUSD has refrained from commenting on the ongoing lawsuit, citing pending litigation. The current lawsuit follows several other complaints filed against the district related to various issues such as bullying, racism, and sexual harassment.
Moreover, a trial regarding another sexual abuse case involving a former Beverly Hills High School student is scheduled to commence on October 6.
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Additional Resources
- Beverly Hills Courier: Family Sues BHUSD Over Alleged Sexual Assaults at El Rodeo Elementary
- Beverly Press: BHUSD Faces New Civil Rights Lawsuit
- Fox LA: Black Teachers Suing Beverly Hills USD Over Racism Claims
- Wikipedia: Title IX
- Google Search: Beverly Hills Unified School District lawsuits
Author: STAFF HERE BEVERLY HILLS WRITER
The Beverly Hills Staff Writer represents the experienced team at HEREBeverlyHills.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Rodeo Drive Concours d'Elegance, the Beverly Hills artSHOW, Concerts on Canon, and holiday celebrations throughout the city. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce and Visit Beverly Hills, plus leading businesses in luxury fashion, hospitality, and entertainment that drive the local economy. As part of the broader HERE network, including HERELosAngeles.com, HERESantaAna.com, HEREHuntingtonBeach.com, and HERECostaMesa.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Southern California's dynamic landscape.
