School board fires child molester

Jenna Bordelon

BURBANK -- The Burbank Board of Education made it official Thursday,

firing John Muir Middle School teacher Ronald Kurtz as a result of his

conviction for child molestation.

The board unanimously approved the termination, which ended Kurtz’s

35-plus years as a physical education teacher at John Muir.

Supt. David Aponik sent Kurtz, 60, a letter on Dec. 8 informing him of

an intent by the district to dismiss him. At that time, Kurtz was given

an opportunity to have a hearing to defend himself.

Kurtz, who was convicted of molestation on Nov. 9, 2000, never asked

for a hearing. His brother, Jeff Kurtz, said Ronald intended to retire

after his sentencing.

The former leader of the Dolphin Club -- a boys’ adventure club -- was

convicted in Long Beach Superior Court on a felony charge of committing a

lewd act with a boy under the age of 14. He was also convicted of a

misdemeanor charge of possessing sexually-explicit photographs of

children, which were found at his home.

Kurtz received five years’ probation and no jail time for his crimes.

Kurtz has been suspended from teaching since criminal charges were

brought against him stemming from a trip he took with the Dolphin Club to

Catalina Island in October 1999.

One of the boys on the trip accused Kurtz of fondling him. Three other

boys testified that Kurtz had fondled and grabbed them on trips with the

club to Las Vegas, Big Bear and Hawaii.

Kurtz will not receive retirement benefits. “From the school district,

he gets nothing,” Aponik said.

Kurtz would have received medical benefits until age 65, but now he

won’t because the district terminated him.

Kurtz will, however, get his pension from the California Teacher’s

Retirement System.

Aponik had no dollar amount, but said Kurtz, the school district and

the state contributed to Kurtz’s pension. The amount of his pension is

based on age, final compensation and years of service.

“Basically, there may be closure in terms of his employment with the

school district, but there’s not closure with the court system,” Aponik

said. “Hopefully the children that were victims of his behavior have

recovered or will recover from their experiences with him.”