School board approves $89,000 tentative settlement in Joinville employment suit

The Nassau County School Board voted Sept. 12 to approve the terms of a tentative settlement in the employment lawsuit Joinville v. Nassau County School Board and Cathy Knight Burns (case no. 3:23-cv-996), which board counsel said will result in the plaintiff’s dismissal with prejudice in exchange for payment of $89,000.

Brett Steger, the board’s attorney, read the settlement terms into the public record after a closed litigation meeting. He told the board the payment of $89,000 and litigation defense costs “will be paid in full by the Northeast Florida Educational Consortium.” Steger said the agreement includes a general release and a statement that neither the board nor Dr. Burns admits wrongdoing.

Superintendent Cathy Burns recommended the board approve the settlement “pursuant to the terms outlined” by counsel. A motion to approve the settlement was made and seconded and the board indicated approval by voice vote.

Board counsel said the resolution is conditioned upon the board’s approval of the terms and that the court reporter’s transcript from the closed session will become public when the matter is fully adjourned. The board also authorized special counsel to execute and finalize the release and convey any acceptance necessary to effect the settlement.

The board did not place a roll-call tally in the public portion of the transcript; the approval was recorded as a voice vote. The settlement language read aloud specified the dismissal with prejudice, the general release of claims arising from the plaintiff’s employment, and the funding source for the payment as NEFEC. The board’s action does not, by itself, change district policy and included no admission of liability.

Next steps: counsel will finalize the agreement documents and, per the terms discussed by counsel, the district will record the settlement and any required public disclosures once the release and payment are executed.