Natomas Unified board approves $140,000 settlement in voting-rights litigation

The Natomas Unified School District Board of Trustees announced that in closed session it had approved a settlement of pending litigation alleging violations of the California Voting Rights Act.

"I am pleased to announce that in closed session, the board voted to approve settlement agreement in this litigation," the board chair said in open session, summarizing the outcome. The chair reported the vote as 5–0 and said a copy of the settlement would be available by contacting the district's constituent services office.

According to the chair's statement, the settlement terms reported in open session include a $140,000 payment by the district and dismissal of the pending litigation with prejudice. The chair also said plaintiffs will waive any right to challenge the district's trustee-area maps and future elections and that the terms include a mutual general release and waiver of claims.

The chair said the district learned on 09/11/2024 that settlement negotiations had been successful, and that the special meeting was called in part to avoid incurring additional legal fees. The board announced the action after reconvening from closed session; the chair read the open-session announcement and then adjourned the meeting.

The transcript reads the court reference in open session but the exact case-number text was not clear in the recording. The chair identified the dispute as litigation pending in Sacramento County Superior Court concerning the California Voting Rights Act; the transcript did not provide a clearly legible case number. Members of the public may request a copy of the settlement agreement from the district's constituent and customer services office during normal business hours.