Attorneys for the William S. Hart Union High School District agreed to settle anti-LGBTQ discrimination claims against a principal one day after district leaders named a building after the since-promoted administrator, per court records obtained by The Signal.
Hart district officials said they were unable to release the pending settlement terms, which are scheduled to be discussed by the governing board in closed session at 6 p.m. Wednesday.
“LASC Case No. 23STCV07575 is on the agenda this week for recommendation of final approval by the board,” said a prepared statement issued by Superintendent Michael Vierra. “Any settlement terms cannot be released until final approval by both parties. Frequently, public agencies receive recommendations for minimal settlements to avoid the cost of litigation, regardless of merit.”
In the April 2023 lawsuit, a former Golden Valley High special education teacher accused Sal Frias, who now serves as chief administrative officer of student services and leadership support for the district, of discrimination, retaliation and a failure to prevent harassment.
Frias, a fixture at Golden Valley for about two decades before his June promotion, was honored by Hart district governing board President Cherise Moore on Sept. 10.
During an emotional celebration, a former student talked about how Frias was always there for her, and the moment culminated in a large group photo with the “Golden Valley family.”
Days later, an attorney for the lawsuit’s plaintiff, Kayla Prieto, who describes herself as a 29-year-old gay Latina in the discrimination complaint, filed a notice of settlement with the court stating terms were reached on Sept. 11.
Frias declined to comment on the lawsuit Monday.
Robert Stanford Brown, attorney for the plaintiff, declined to comment on the matter Monday, but confirmed the filing of the terms, which are pending the board’s approval.
“During her employment with defendant, plaintiff reported her concerns about sexually harassing behavior and discriminatory statements which were racist, homophobic or mocking the disability of a student to her supervisors and Golden Valley High School officials,” according to the complaint, which was originally filed in 2022, two years after the teacher’s hiring.
In a meeting with Frias, “She brought up an example of a coworker engaging in homophobic behavior,” and she was asked why the comments “bothered her so much,” according to the lawsuit.
The teacher also reported that she was told she was “not a good fit” and falsely accused of having inappropriate relationships with students, during a meeting with district administrators and her union representative. Her employment with the district ended on the last day of the 2021-22 school year.
