Poudre School District board approves $16.2 million settlement for claims tied to former employee

The Poudre School District Board of Education voted 7–0 Tuesday to approve a $16.2 million settlement resolving claims brought on behalf of 10 students tied to the criminal conduct of a former district employee.

The agreement, which the board described as a global resolution of pending litigation, will be funded by $10.0 million from the Colorado School District Self Insurance Pool (CDSIP) and $6.2 million from the district’s Board of Education contingency reserves. The board’s president was authorized to sign the settlement and the district administration was directed to effectuate the $6.2 million payment under the agreement.

The district’s formal resolution, read into the record, identified the underlying litigation as Tyler Zanella, CLC et al v. Poudre School District R-1 et al, United States District Court for the District of Colorado (civil action numbers consolidated for the case). The settlement was reached through confidential mediation and recommended to the board by legal counsel.

Board President Kristen Draper read a statement on behalf of the board and Superintendent Brian Kingsley, saying the settlement “represents our collective commitment to addressing the harm caused and to supporting the ongoing recovery and well‑being of these students and their families.” Draper also listed steps the district has taken since 2023, including revised hiring practices, installation of bus cameras, a new transportation manager for students with disabilities, enhanced staff training on trauma‑informed care and behavior management, and improved coordination among transportation, schools and families.

The resolution directs district administration to complete the settlement payment and to continue implementing reforms the board said were intended to prevent future incidents and to support healing and trust rebuilding in affected school communities.

The board called a five‑minute recess immediately after the vote and the statement. No additional vote or motion was taken on the settlement at the meeting.

Why it matters: A seven‑figure settlement and the changes the district described will affect district finances and operations, particularly transportation and special‑education oversight. The district said it had already spent nearly $2.0 million since 2023 on training, protocol changes and related improvements.

What remains unclear: The mediation agreement is confidential; the resolution summarized the monetary terms and some nonmonetary commitments but did not provide full text of the release in the public packet. The board did not identify a timeline for nonmonetary elements such as additional audits, third‑party reviews or ongoing reporting back to the public beyond the implementation direction in the resolution.

The vote: Jill (board clerk) called the roll. The vote tally was recorded as seven ayes: Jim Brokesh; Kristen Draper; Connor Duffy; Kevin Havela; Carolyn Reed; Scott Schoenbauer; and Jessica Zamora. Motion passed 7–0.

Next steps: The president was authorized to execute the agreement and administration was directed to transfer funds and implement the agreed reforms.

Sources: Board packet and public meeting remarks by Board President Kristen Draper and Superintendent Brian Kingsley.