Home Brentwood BUSD Settles Abuse Lawsuit for $8 Million

BUSD Settles Abuse Lawsuit for $8 Million

by ECT

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At the January 22, 2014 Board Meeting, the Brentwood Union School District Board of Education approved a settlement agreement to bring an end to a lawsuit alleging abuse of special needs students at the district elementary schools.

The agreement calls for the plaintiffs to receive $8 million total in compensation and legal fees. The lawsuit plaintiffs will dismiss their lawsuit against the district and others. Because the case involves children, the court must grant final approval to the settlement terms.

The lawsuit was filed following reports of abusive behavior by special education teacher Dina Holder in 2010. The plaintiffs in this case were students in Holders’ classrooms at two schools in the District. Holder pled no contest to charges of child endangerment in 2012 and left the Brentwood District following the settlement of an earlier civil lawsuit.

The terms of the settlement were negotiated between plaintiffs attorneys and representatives of the districts insurance program. The insurance program will pay the settlement amount; it will not come from the Brentwood Union’s budget.

Since this case was field, the Brentwood Union School District has made important changes to ensure that students are educated in a safe environment. Every employee in the District has been re-trained on responsibilities of being a mandated reporter, and the District is working in partnership with the Child Abuse Prevention Council to ensure that every employee knows and fulfills the duties we share to protect students.

The action that triggered this lawsuit began an extremely difficult chapter in Brentwood Union’s history. We have learned painful, necessary lesions about the culture we must have in place if we are to be worthy of the trust parents place in us. We are committed to work continually to build and maintain a culture in which no employee hesitates to perform his or her duty on behalf of our students.

Editors Note:

When asked specifically what the District has done in terms of changes, here is what Superintendent Dana Eaton said via email.

“In the past year, we have made important changes in our district to make sure we are fulfilling our responsibility to protect our students. We have re-trained every one of our employees on their duties as mandated reporters. Each regular employee has had an additional, in-person training session with the Child Abuse Prevention Council.

As of today, every one of our staff members, including substitute teachers, have received training via an interactive online program. Every regular employee has also received the CAPC training except for employees just hired.  The next training in February 12. We have updated and strengthened the information we share with new employees, including substitutes. We have had multiple meetings with administrators to dialogue about our trainings and expectations.

All district leaders clearly understand our expectation that every employee in our district be a vigilant advocate for student safety, and we are following up regularly to make sure those expectations are met.

Our plan is to retrain every employee, each year going forward.  I also meet monthly with the Brentwood Police Chief to align our practices in the best interest of student safety,” said Eaton.

 

 

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12 comments

joe blow from idaho Jan 23, 2014 - 8:11 am

This woman should have been FIRED. This is $8 million that will be taken from the students because it is almost impossible to fire incompetent teachers.

Julz Jan 23, 2014 - 8:42 am

May I assume this is in ADDITION to the $950,000 lawsuit that was settled two years ago??

I have 100% faith now that we have an AWESOME incredible top notch superintendent who is completely dedicated to all of the Brentwood students. Other real changes include demoting an incompetent principal and holding staff accountable. It is incredibly sad that we had to suffer the loss of these two huge lawsuits to realize the administrators of our schools and district office needed to be held accountable. I have 100% faith in the future of Brentwood schools. Dana Eaton can handle any situation.

Buy a Clue Jan 23, 2014 - 9:21 am

Reading comprehension is clearly not your strong suit. From the article:

“The terms of the settlement were negotiated between plaintiffs attorneys and representatives of the districts insurance program. The insurance program will pay the settlement amount; it will not come from the Brentwood Union’s budget.”

Been here a long time Jan 23, 2014 - 8:34 am

Let’s recap:
The super gets fired but a years pay and then finds a sucker district to give him the same job
The principal gets transferred but no punishment
The asst. super gets off scott free
The teacher gets probation and early retirement
The taxpayers are out $8 million
The board gets off scott free

Does anyone really need to ask why the taxpayers have no confidence in government?

fed up parent Jan 24, 2014 - 9:44 am

Where did Merrill Grant get a new job at?

ECVsBrother Jan 23, 2014 - 6:39 pm

Clueless doesn’t reveal they are self insured. Never the less our schools and children lose all around.The problem is protectionism of incompetent teachers by their union. When we finally make teachers accountable by results will we get quality education. Quality education has been lost for years in the public sector.

Marie Wirth Jan 23, 2014 - 9:01 pm

EVCsBrother, at that time, Brentwood union school district was NOT union, and had no protection so that was not an issue. The problem with public education today is that teachers are not allowed to do what they do best, and that is teach. Today, they are REQUIRED by federal and state to test children into the ground because right now, test scores are all that parents and administrators care about. That incredible pressure on teachers and therefor on our children has reached a ridiculous level. So respectfully, I disagree with the idea that making “teachers accountable by results” will get us quality education. It has done just the opposite. Giving teachers back the ability to TEACH creatively, intelligently, and thoughtfully is what will bring quality back to public education again, Not testing them 5 times a week in every subject until they literally just shut down and want to give up.

ECVsBrother Jan 23, 2014 - 9:18 pm

I understand what you are saying. The accountability on results was not meant as testing. It was meant by the actual results of kids learning. I agree that teachers hands are tied and that is a mistake on the part of society.Today just plain common sense in young adults is very rare. I think that going back to the days before teacher unions, testing score mandates, and restricted curricula have had serious negative affects on the caliber of young adults. Sorry if you misunderstood me.Schools are failing children. Parents are failing children. Some teachers are failing children too.

marie Jan 24, 2014 - 11:42 am

I definitely agree with much of what you say, especially the last line …So sad.

Lorree Radtke Jan 23, 2014 - 10:53 pm

BUSD may be looking at more lawsuits. The special education teachers and especially the instructional aides–even the one on one aides–have no problem enjoying their cell phones during instructional time. These students have moderate to severe learning disabilities and have great needs to have all eyes, ears, attention and hands available. The principals of these schools need to put into place a serious NO CELL PHONE use during any school time–including recess and lunch. What training is being implemented?

Julio Jan 24, 2014 - 5:25 pm

All teachers is all schools should put their phones away as the students are supposed to do. That doesn’t stop your postal service deliverer to text on their phone all over town and kill someone.

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