Santa Clara Unified board approves settlement to fund private placement for special‑education student

The Santa Clara Unified School District Board of Trustees voted unanimously in closed session to approve a settlement giving parents funding that exceeds $100,000 for a student's private placement and related attorney fees for the 2024–25 and 2025–26 school years.

The board disclosed the outcome after returning to open session, saying the vote on the compromise agreement was 7–0. The motion was made by Trustee Kathy Watanabe and seconded by Trustee Andy Rotterman. The district identified the item in closed session as a pending special‑education claim (referenced as case number 100925NN2) under Government Code section 54956.9(d)(2).

The board’s announcement said the settlement resolves “potential and threatened claims against the district” and covers private placement and services for the two school years specified and related attorney fees. The district provided the names of trustees who voted yes during the roll call: Jim Canova, Vicky Fairchild, Bonnie Lieberman, Jody Muirhead, Andy Rotterman, Michelle Ryan and Kathy Watanabe.

The board's closed‑session agenda had listed the item as a conference with legal counsel on pending litigation. No further terms or vendor names for placement were disclosed in the public report; the board characterized the outcome as an approved compromise agreement.

The board also reported in open session that other closed‑session items were discussed and that, for several of them, it "received information and gave direction." No additional votes or contract awards associated with those other items were reported publicly at the close of the meeting.