Clark County School District Pays $11 Million to Settle Shocking Lawsuits – Is Accountability Finally Here?

The Clark County School District (CCSD) is facing intense scrutiny after agreeing to settle two high-profile lawsuits for nearly $11 million, both involving shocking allegations of harm to students by district employees. These cases highlight significant failures within the system and raise serious questions about accountability and oversight in one of the nation’s largest school districts.

The first settlement, totaling $9.6 million, is being paid to the families of two young children who were molested by CCSD bus driver Michael Banco. Despite previous allegations of abuse and settlements, Banco remained employed by the district, leading to further devastating incidents. Banco, who preyed on special needs children as young as four and five, is now serving a 35-year-to-life sentence in prison. A mother who settled her own case with CCSD in 2015 for $7,500 expressed heartbreak for the families involved, saying, “Their child’s innocence is gone.”

The second case, settled for $1 million, involves a widely circulated 2023 cell phone video showing a CCSD police officer slamming a Durango High School student to the ground and handcuffing another. The incident, which allegedly began as a jaywalking citation, escalated when a student attempted to record the encounter. Despite evidence of the officer’s aggressive actions, CCSD’s internal investigation resulted in no disciplinary action against the officer. The district fought to suppress the body camera footage but lost in court to the ACLU, which brought the case to light.

Accountability and Public Trust at Stake

These settlements come at a time when CCSD is grappling with a $28 million payout for litigation over the past two years, with 117 lawsuits still pending. Critics argue that the district’s attempts to suppress information and avoid accountability have eroded public trust.

Athar Haseebullah, Executive Director of the ACLU of Nevada, did not mince words: “CCSD has spent two years working to avoid accountability for attacking our clients. The district’s attempts to bury records and distort the narrative were a bold-faced lie.”

Meanwhile, business owners and taxpayers are left wondering: How can the district address systemic failures without burdening the community with ever-growing litigation costs? When will CCSD prioritize safety, transparency, and accountability over damage control?

The district’s multimillion-dollar deficit has been blamed in part on these litigation costs. Now, the spotlight is on whether CCSD can implement meaningful reforms to protect students and restore public confidence.

Source: FOX5 Vegas