Secret sex abuse settlements keep public in the dark about big payouts at schools

This is read by an automated voice.Please report any issues or inconsistencies here.

The Visalia Unified School District’s public board meeting in March was a festive and upbeat affair with a performance by a student chamber music group and a commendation for a high school cheer squad.When the seven-member board went into closed session, the agenda was decidedly grimmer: Six former students were suing the district over sexual abuse they said they suffered decades earlier at the hands of a kindergarten teacher.Out of public view, the board unanimously approved a $3-million settlement with provisions intended to keep the community in the dark forever.Under the terms of the agreement, the women, their lawyers and families were prohibited from disclosing any aspect of the deal, including the amount they were paid.“The Parties agree that they will respond to any inquiries they may receive from any third parties regarding the lawsuit by stating only that ‘the matter has been resolved’ without any further elaboration, discussion or disclosure,” the settlement instructed.It was Visalia’s fifth secret settlement in the last three years, one of a flurry that districts are quietly approving statewide.A Times investigation found that California’s public schools, faced with a historic surge of sex abuse lawsuits, are increasingly using nondisclosure agreements and other tactics that celebrities and big corporations rely upon to protect their reputation.

At least 25 districts have resolved suits or other claims in ways that hinder taxpayers from learning about the allegations, the cost of settling them or both, The Times found.These hidden settlements total more than $53 million.

Legal experts say that these settlements may be in violation of state law, and that some should be investigated by the state attorney general.While shielding the names and identifying details of sex abuse victims is widely accepted, courts have repeatedly said the public has a right to...