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ABC Unified board approves roughly $4.5 million in settlements, votes to expel two students
Summary
At its Jan. 21 meeting the ABC Unified School District board reported approval of two litigation settlements totaling about $4.5 million, accepted two special‑education settlements, and voted unanimously to expel one student and impose a suspended expulsion in a second case after closed‑session review.
At its Jan. 21 regular meeting, the ABC Unified School District Board of Education reported the outcomes of closed‑session negotiations and took formal disciplinary action in two student‑discipline cases.
Board President Nishi announced that the board approved two settlement agreements in existing litigation, one totaling $2,500,000 and a second for $2,000,000. "The first settlement agreement is in the amount of $2,500,000," President Nishi said in the report‑out, adding that portions of the payments will come from the district’s insurance carrier and the district general fund. He said the motions to approve both settlements passed by 6–0.
The board also reported approval of two Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) special‑education settlements: OAH case 2024100793 (services totaling $26,005.20 plus attorney fees of $7,000 and specified compensatory services) and OAH case 2024120083 (services totaling $43,005.25 plus attorney fees of $7,775 and detailed compensatory programming). Both were approved by roll call vote, 6–0, according to the board’s report.
On student discipline, the board accepted the closed‑session recommendation to expel the student in case number 2425‑6 for a violation of Education Code section 48900(m) and ordered readmission review in December 2025 for the school period beginning January 2026. The motion to expel passed on a roll‑call vote recorded as 6–0. The board also voted to adopt a no‑cost suspended expulsion in case number 2425‑7 with terms set by the stipulated agreement; that motion also passed 6–0.
The board did not release additional identifying details about the students in open session, citing confidentiality and the statutory protections that govern student discipline. The meeting record lists the motion and vote outcomes but does not provide further detail about the disciplinary findings beyond the Education Code citations and the readmission timeline for case 2425‑6.
The decisions followed the board’s earlier announcement of closed‑session items, which had included public‑employee matters, labor negotiations, existing litigation (Los Angeles Superior Court case number 22NWCV01753) and anticipated litigation. President Nishi framed the settlements as steps to resolve pending matters and to provide appropriate remedies where required by the settlements.
The board’s unanimous approval of the settlements and expulsions will be reflected in the district’s public minutes; the administration said it will file any required notices and take implementation steps consistent with the terms announced by the board.
