Contrary to other published reports, the Hart District has not settled Rio Norte case.

[view:node_ad=5]William S. Hart District Superintendent Jaime Castellanos is offering a different take on a story published earlier today in Santa Clarita. Contrary to other reports, he says that he has not signed off on any settlement between the District and the family of a former Rio Norte student who alleged she was sexually assaulted by the school’s former track coach Scott Bell in March of 2006.

 

In fact, Castellanos also told KHTS that after a Sheriff’s investigation, no evidence of a sexual assault was found. The suit revolved instead around inappropriate e-mail communication between Bell and the student.

 

A meeting was scheduled with Castellanos and the District’s attorney to review the case, at which time the superintendent will be briefed on the latest news.

 

Until then, a confidentiality agreement prevents the parties involved from speaking about the details of the case.

 

However, in an article in today’s Signal, they reported that the student’s attorney Robert Drescher said part of the agreement between the district and the student includes an attempt to instate a plan to have a copy of all student-teacher emails automatically sent to parents. Castellanos says he has not heard of the plan, and he looked forward to discussing any and all parts of the case with the District’s attorney.