Teacher Removed for Misconduct Involving Camera

A sixth-grade substitute teacher at a preparatory school in Long Beach has been removed from the classroom while an investigation is conducted into "lleged misconduct,'' authorities said today amid reports from students that the man may have been photographing them surreptitiously.

The misconduct is alleged to have occurred at Rancho Dominguez Preparatory School, at 4110 Santa Fe Ave., whose students are in grades 6 through 11, said Ellen Morgan of the Los Angeles Unified School District. The man has not been arrested, she said.

Some students said in broadcast interviews that they discovered a camera under a desk pointed at them when it fell to the floor. They asked the teacher about the item, but he provided no explanation. In a letter to parents and guardians dated today, school Principal Keri Lew wrote, in part:

"The purpose of this letter is to inform you of an investigation involving alleged misconduct by a substitute school employee who has been removed from campus pending the results of the investigation by the Long Beach Police Department.''

She said the man "will not return until the investigation is complete and the allegations are determined to be unfounded.''