Accused Teacher Had a Fine Record but 1982 Signaled Some Trouble

Terry Bartholome, the former schoolteacher accused of molesting students at the 68th Street School, was first hired by the Los Angeles School District as a substitute teacher in 1967.

The next year he became a full-time elementary teacher. He worked in three San Fernando Valley schools--Platt Ranch and Callahan, both in Woodlands Hills, and the Canoga Park School--and then left the district in 1976, apparently to start a business.

“His record has nothing but complimentary remarks. He got outstanding ratings from his principals,” said school spokesman Bill Rivera of Bartholome’s tenure at the Valley schools.

In 1979, Bartholome returned to the district, and was assigned to the 107th Street School in South-Central Los Angeles.

The first sign of trouble, according to district officials, came in June, 1982, when School Supt. Harry Handler, Mayor Tom Bradley and state Sen. Diane Watson (D-Los Angeles) each received an anonymous letter about Bartholome.

“The letter said he was sexually abusing girls in his class, with no specifics. It was signed by the ‘Concerned Community of 107th Street School’,” Rivera said.

Investigation Ordered

Top school officials ordered an investigation by the principal and the school district police force. In the first of many such actions, “Bartholome was confronted by the allegations and denied them,” the spokesman said.

In December, 1982, a parent of a child at the 107th Street School complained that the teacher had “fondled” her daughter. School officials said they ordered an investigation by the school police force and, according to Rivera, “reported the allegation to the Southeast Division of the Police Department.” But soon after the inquiry began, the parent withdrew the complaint and refused to speak against Bartholome.

“We had no witnesses and no one to testify against him, so the investigation was ended,” Rivera said.

The spokesman added that because “the allegations had become fairly well known in the community and the faculty, the decision was made to transfer him.” In January, 1983, Bartholome was assigned to the 68th Street School. The principal, Alice McDonald, was told why Bartholome was transferred to her school and was ordered to report “any inappropriate behavior to the regional office,” Rivera said.

In early December, 1983, McDonald received a first complaint from a parent that her child had been “molested” by Bartholome. School officials have refused to divulge the details of what happened next, except to say that the principal telephoned a report to the regional official.

In late March, 1984, the principal received a second report, this time from three girls alleging that they observed Bartholome molesting children in his classroom during a recess. Again, the principal reported the complaint to the regional office, and no action was taken.

On April 6, a third set of allegations was presented to the principal. “Seven female students and parents complained to McDonald. She reported it to the regional official. No report went to the police, and nothing happened,” Rivera said.

It took a fourth report, on Nov. 30, 1984, from an angry parent that was described in some accounts as being “more graphic and explicit.” Several days later, Rivera said, Phillip Jordan, then the regional superintendent and now head of the Pasadena Unified School District, learned of the allegations and telephoned Sidney Thompson, an associate superintendent and the district’s third-ranking administrator. Thompson ordered the school police to investigate and reported the allegations to the Sexually Exploited Child Unit of the Los Angeles Police Department.

On Dec. 20, Bartholome was taken out of the school, and on Feb. 26 of this year, the school board approved his dismissal. One regional administrator--Stuart Bernstein--was given an official reprimand for his failure to take action in response to the principal’s complaints. No other action was taken by the board at that time.

On Dec. 21, 1984, the Los Angeles Police Department began its investigation, and on July 8 of this year, Bartholome appeared in Los Angeles County criminal court, charged with 27 counts of child molestation and lewd behavior and one count of rape.

On July 22 the Los Angeles school board ordered a new investigation of the delay in reporting the accusations.