Officials for the William S. Hart Union High School District on Thursday released the terms for the settlement of a lawsuit a teacher filed claiming discrimination by a longtime administrator.
“The board approved a settlement in (the lawsuit) at the recommendation of the district’s insurance carrier and legal counsel,” according to an email from Debbie Dunn, director of communication and community engagement.
The terms of the agreement are as follows: The district and its insurance company agree to pay $36,000, one-third of which is paid by the district; the former teacher released all claims; and there is no admission of liability or wrongdoing by the district.
Kayla Prieto worked for Golden Valley High as a special educator from 2020 to 2022, according to her complaint.
She said she brought problems to Sal Frias, the school’s principal at the time, and she felt harassed as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, according to the lawsuit.
One day before the settlement was approved last month, the district’s governing board honored Frias at an emotional ceremony by naming the school’s gym after him.
Frias had been at Golden Valley for 20 years. In June, he was promoted to chief administrative officer for the district.
