Santa Clara Unified board approves compromise agreement in OAH case, caps settlement at $79,750

The Santa Clara Unified School District Board of Trustees on March 26 approved a closed‑session compromise to resolve Office of Administrative Hearings case no. 2025110257, authorizing payments not to exceed $79,750 for placement, compensatory education, reimbursement of parents' private educational services and related attorney fees.

A staff report said the motion was made by Trustee Kathy Watanabe and seconded by Trustee Andy Ratermann; the roll‑call vote was six to zero with Trustee Canova absent. "A majority of the board in closed session voted to approve a compromise agreement…to resolve educational claims raised against the district in exchange for funding not to exceed $79,750," the board reported when it returned to open session.

The settlement followed a closed‑session discussion of several personnel and litigation matters. Before closed session, teacher Phanom Amber Wacht asked the board during public comment to "hear my appeal" of an investigation into conduct by a school administrator, saying the investigation lacked transparency and that she feared retaliation; she told the board she would pursue the Public Employment Relations Board if necessary.

The board did not discuss details of the claims or the identities of involved students in open session, citing confidentiality. The staff summary said the settlement funds were intended to address placement and compensatory services and to reimburse parents for private educational services and attorney fees.

On the same agenda the board listed other closed‑session items (public employee appointment, discipline, and labor negotiations) and later reported receiving information on those matters but taking no further public action that evening.

The board scheduled no additional public discussion of this settlement at the meeting; the board record on March 26 reflects the approved compromise and the vote tally.