Several educators at Rubidoux High School in Jurupa Valley are on paid leave as officials investigate social media posts in which they disparaged students who skipped school Thursday, Feb. 16, for the national “A Day Without Immigrants” boycott.

In the Facebook posts, which have since been deleted, at least five teachers and one counselor applauded the fact that so many Latino students missed class.

• Related: Rubidoux High students ‘disgusted’ by teachers’ negative comments about immigrant students

The comments included statements that students were “lazy” and “drunk” and the cafeteria was cleaner without them. Jurupa Unified School District Superintendent Elliott Duchon said the posts don’t reflect the views of administrators and employees.

• Related: Read a statement from the Superintendent of Jurupa Unified School District

Science teacher Geoffrey Greer started the thread Thursday afternoon by saying that having 50 percent fewer students proves “how much better things might be without all this overcrowding.”

State data show that, in 2014-15, Rubidoux’s average class size was 27.3, higher than the Riverside County average of 26.1 and state average of 24.3.

He added that students who protested used the occasion “as an excuse to be lazy and/or get drunk. Best school day ever.”

• Map: Here’s where Rubidoux High School is

Art teacher Robin Riggle responded, saying that having 50 absences “was a very pleasant day.”

Science teacher Allen Umbarger wrote that most of those missing were “failing students.” Agriculture teacher Rhonda Fuller and science Chuck Baugh said their classes were less disruptive. Baugh said such days should be done more often.

Guidance counselor Patricia Crawford wrote that the “cafeteria was much cleaner after lunch” and there were “no discipline issues. More please,” she said.

Rubidoux High, located in Jurupa Valley near Riverside, enrolls nearly 1,600 students, 91 percent of whom are Latinos.

Superintendent Elliott Duchon, who was at the school Friday morning greeting kids being dropped off by their parents, wouldn’t say how many teachers are on leave.

Duchon condemned the posts, saying they don’t reflect the “beliefs and core values of the district or staff.”

“We want to express that we are deeply concerned and distressed about the postings,” Duchon said in a statement posted on the district’s website. He added that the district would take “appropriate action.”

School district officials will discuss the situation with their attorneys Friday, said Duchon, who declined to elaborate on what action might be taken against the teachers or to provide additional details.

Rubidoux students plan to protest the comments at an on-campus rally after school Friday.

Freshman Terrell Ladd, 15, said he liked Baugh, his science teacher, until he read Baugh’s post saying his classes were “quieter and more productive” with 49 absences and that the teacher wanted to see the situation repeated.

“It’s crazy,” Ladd said before school. “They put it on social media thinking nobody would go off on them. I feel bad for the students because they’re not troublemakers.”

Ladd, who attended classes Thursday, said the teachers should be fired or suspended.

“One day off and teachers are saying they’re going to fail in life when they came to this country to get a better education,” Ladd said.

Freshman Jesus Campos, 15, who has classes taught by Baugh and Umbarger, said the comments “were very unprofessional and very harsh.”

He said both are excellent teachers and shouldn’t be fired.

“Just their apologies would be good enough,” Campos said.

Asked if she was offended by the comments, sophomore Yesenia Villarreal said, “I think any Mexican would be.”

Villarreal, who was walking to school with Campos, said “it’s going to be hard to look at them the same, but they’re still our elders and they still deserve our respect.”

While Campos and Villarreal were at school Thursday, they supported the students who stayed home.

“They’re standing up for what they believe,” said Villarreal, 15.

The comments come a week after a school board member in the nearby Alvord Unified School District came under fire for social media posts that many considered racist.

Joseph Barragan, a Riverside resident who joined the board in December, has said he won’t resign over Facebook comments that disparage undocumented immigrants, blacks and Muslims.

Barragan denies writing the posts and said his Facebook account was hacked. Riverside police are investigating the hacking and death threats that Barragan said he received. Alvord Unified serves the western Riverside area and part of northeast Corona.

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