Mauro Bautista, the principal at Felicitas and Gonzalo Méndez High School, broke his silence after his unexplained removal spurred student protests and community uproar.
Students, parents, teachers and neighborhood leaders have demanded the Los Angeles Unified School District share more information about the principal’s absence, which began on April 29. The district, however, has maintained it’s unable to share details, citing confidentiality laws.
For weeks, rumors surrounding Bautista’s absence have spread on social media and in the community.
On Thursday, community members held an emotional rally at local nonprofit Proyecto Pastoral following what was described as a frustrating meeting with district leaders. Accompanied by his parents, Israel Bautista, Mauro Bautista’s brother, assured the public in attendance that the rumors spreading about his brother were “false.”
“I can tell you for a fact that my brother is not in jail. He is not being investigated for anything criminal,” Israel Bautista said.
He also read a statement written by principal Bautista on advisement of his lawyer:
“My heart is with Mendez, its students, the staff, the families and its deserving community. While I am disappointed that confidentialities may have been either purposely or inadvertently breached, I am confident that all of us who serve Mendez will be timely reinstated and that the worthy educational aspirations of this community high school will carry forward now and into the future.”
While Bautista will not attend the Mendez graduation ceremony Friday evening, he will be sharing a video message for the class of 2024. Ahead of the ceremony, Bautista shared a message for graduates with Boyle Heights Beat:
Dear Mendez Class of 2024,
I love you. Congratulations on your graduation.
You’ve demonstrated in these past six weeks what being a Mendez Jaguar is all about. You are tough. As 9th graders and as 12th graders, you persevered in difficult and chaotic times as so many Boyle Heights and Eastside youth have done throughout history. You are courageous. You displayed your bravery by asking tough questions and making intrepid demands to adults with multiple degrees. You are intelligent. Your organizational skills these past weeks put in awe all the adults that surround you at school and adults throughout the city. You are beautiful. I am so fortunate to have been surrounded by your beauty, inside and out, these past four years.
To the families of Mendez, thank you for your passionate support and entrusting in us your most precious treasure. To the Mendez staff, I love you. Your positive academic and social-emotional impact on our children was on full display for the city to see the week of May 28, and that is the type of outstanding education that cannot be measured by any standardized exam. Rebecca, Elio, and Mizar, thank you for continuing the long Mendez tradition of having children of Mendez staff graduate from our exceptional school. To our community partners, thank you for helping us raise tough, brave, smart, and beautiful human beings. You are undeniably part of the Mendez family.
I started this message by stating that I love you and so I end it by letting you know that I most definitely feel loved by you.
Your principal, now and forever.
Mauro Bautista
Read more:
Uproar over Mendez principal removal spreads across Boyle Heights community
Mendez High School students march to City Hall to protest principal’s removal
“Free Jefe!”: Mendez High School students walk out to protest principal’s monthlong absence
We love you too Mr. Bautista, Méndez is not Méndez without you and Mr. Cerezo!
This does not surprise me about LAUSD. They have been known for their retailatory practices and bullying of good employees and showing favoritism. Local District East needs to be accountable. For example, there is the case of Graciela Ortiz, a Huntington Park council member who is being sued by a former student for abuse however Ortiz was removed for only a few days and was returned to her position because she is being protected by officials at Local District East and she is running for School board. Good people like Mr. Bautista and others at LAUSD are treated unfairly and people like Ortiz are being protected due to political power. It is unfair and Local District East need to be accountable for their unfair practices.