Uncategorized

March 15 update: Attorneys for the three victims' families and MHUSD agreed to the $8.25 million settlement in Santa Clara County Superior Court March 15. Also as part of the settlement, MHUSD will implement predatory identification training for staff and curriculum for students.An $8.25-million settlement agreement between Morgan Hill Unified School District and the families of three victims of a former teacher who is now in prison for molesting children will go before the school board for formal approval in a closed session tonight.Attorney Robert Allard, who represents the families of children who were sexually assaulted by fifth grade teacher John Loyd, confirmed that MHUSD officials agreed to pay the families $8.25 million. The settlement will include other, non-monetary terms, but the full agreement requires the school board’s approval before it can be approved by a Superior Court judge.Allard’s spokesman, Ed Vasquez, previously confirmed the monetary part of the settlement March 11.Though MHUSD officials aren’t commenting on the agreement reached over this past weekend, Allard said the matter is “completely settled” as far as the victims’ families are concerned.The district has called for a special closed session meeting at 5 p.m March 14 to discuss the case. Under "Conference with legal counsel - existing litigation," the meeting agenda lists three cases "Jane Doe1," "Jane Doe2," and "Jane Doe3," all v. Morgan Hill Unified School District with corresponding case numbers.The young female victims and their families sued the district in 2015 for allowing Loyd, 55—the girls’ fifth grade teacher—to molest the children while they attended his class at Paradise Valley Elementary School on LaCrosse Drive. The complaint accused the district of turning a blind eye while Loyd violated state education laws and district policies that left him alone with the children in his classroom.In August 2015, Loyd pleaded guilty to four counts of lewd and lascivious acts with four of his fifth-grade female students, all of which occurred at the school. He was sentenced to 40 years in prison.Non-monetary terms of the settlement could include to what extent the district will be required to implement new training programs for staff and students on how to identify a sexual predator.After the Times received numerous anonymous reports that a settlement had been reached outside court, Allard and Vasquez confirmed this training was part of the agreement March 11. However, they later walked back that statement because such a requirement depends on approval by the MHUSD board, Allard said Tuesday.MHUSD officials declined to comment on the settlement before Tuesday’s closed session board meeting."Both parties have an obligation under the gag order not to speak to the media," said MHUSD Communications Coordinator Kimberly Beare in an emailed response to The Times. "Until a settlement is reached, we will be abiding by that order."The 2015 complaint filed by three of the victims’ families alleges that Loyd created opportunities to be alone with the female fifth-grade students in the classroom, in violation of state education laws and school district policies. It also claims the district disregarded a series of complaints about the teacher’s conduct, which included a tendency by Loyd to “play favorites” with some of his female students.The claim also alleged that Loyd was directed by his supervisor to retain children in his classroom during lunch and recess periods, which is a violation of state education codes that mandate all students must be out of the classroom during these times.Loyd also reportedly covered his classroom windows with paper, obstructing any view inside and out.Loyd taught at MHUSD from 2000 until his arrest in 2014. He began teaching in the district at Nordstrom Elementary School, and was transferred to Paradise Valley on LaCrosse Drive in south Morgan Hill in 2008.The incidents to which he pleaded guilty took place on four separate occasions from late 2012 to October 2014, according to court documents.Allard disagreed with the school district’s position on the gag order, which he said “expired” as soon as the parties agreed to a settlement, leaving no jury to influence. He added that the school district is sticking to its position on the gag order “because they want to restrict the ability of my clients to speak freely.”Allard sent a statement to the Times Saturday, March 11, but later asked to hold off on publishing it because it addressed settlement conditions not yet approved by the MHUSD board. He said he “did not want to unduly influence the school district through the press. We wanted to give them the opportunity to do the right thing when it came down to finalizing the non-monetary terms.”The March 15 hearing in Santa Clara County Superior Court will begin at 10 a.m. All terms of the $8.25-million settlement will be disclosed at that hearing.

The jury in the Cody Flores murder trial delivered a split verdict for the two defendants Friday, March 10 at the Hall of Justice in San Jose.

Live Oak improved to 4-4 overall thanks to wins over King City and Kings Academy on Thursday and Saturday, respectively.

The Live Oak softball team went 3-1 in the Circle of Champions Tournament in Salinas, falling in the title game to Notre Dame-Salinas 6-3.

BurglarySomeone broke into a vacant townhome on Ibiza Lane and left behind blood and a wallet that contained a photo ID. The victim reported some windows on the structure had been broken. The burglary was reported 9:30 a.m. March 7.A victim reported he returned home at Vista Del Valle to find his room “ransacked.” The burglary was reported 3:46 p.m. March 7.Petty theftSomeone entered an unlocked car on Purissima Way and stole several items, including a garage door opener. The crime was reported 2:45 p.m. March 3.Stolen vehicleSomeone stole a black 1999 Toyota Camry from Mendocino Way. The theft was reported 5:48 p.m. March 3.Narcotics complaintA 34-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of public intoxication after a visitor at Galvan Park, 17666 Crest Ave., reported the woman was smoking methamphetamine in the boys’ bathroom. The incident was reported 9:23 p.m. March 3.TheftSomeone broke into an unlocked vehicle on Kickapoo Drive at stole cash, tools and other items. The crime was reported 7:10 a.m. March 2.All subjects are innocent until proven guilty. Information is compiled from public records.

City of Morgan Hill officials explained to San Martin residents that a new sewage pipeline will be completed by 2019 to replace the older, smaller one that leaked during the January storms, according to one of the attendees at a March 7 town hall meeting.

Morgan Hill Unified School District will pay $8.25 million to the families of three victims of a former teacher who is now serving a 40-year prison sentence for sexually abusing children, according to the terms of a settlement agreement confirmed by the families’ attorney."Both parties have an obligation under the gag order not to speak to the media," said MHUSD Communications Coordinator Kimberly Beare in an emailed response to The Times. "Until a settlement is reached, we will be abiding by that order."The district has called for a special closed session meeting at 5 p.m March 14 to discuss the case. Under "Conference with legal counsel - existing litigation," the meeting agenda lists three cases "Jane Doe1," "Jane Doe2," and "Jane Doe3," all v. Morgan Hill Unified School District with corresponding case numbers.The young female victims and their families sued the district in 2015 for allowing the girls’ fifth grade teacher John Loyd, 55, to molest the children while they attended his class at Paradise Valley Elementary School on LaCrosse Drive. The complaint accused the district of turning a blind eye while Loyd violated state education laws and district policies that left him alone with the children in his classroom.In August 2015, Loyd pleaded guilty to four counts of lewd and lascivious acts with four of his fifth-grade female students, all of which occurred at the school. He was sentenced to 40 years in prison.The settlement of three of the victims’ lawsuit, confirmed March 11 by attorney Robert Allard’s spokesman, will be presented to a judge in Santa Clara County Superior Court Monday morning. The spokesman, Ed Vasquez, said the district agreed to pay the families $8.25 million, and MHUSD is “recommended” to implement “predator identification training” as part of its mandatory training procedures.MHUSD staff did not immediately reply to requests for comment. More details of the settlement agreement will be revealed after Monday’s hearing.Times staff writer Scott Forstner contributed to this report.

Spirit of Morgan Hill Girls Fastpitch Softball welcomed 230 players and their families to the start of the 34th season of softball Saturday at the San Martin Gwinn fields.

Megan Perron drove in five runs as Sobrato rode two big innings to defeat Soquel 13-3 Thursday.