San Marino School Board Member Chris Norgaard will receive no financial compensation, according to a settlement agreement that was obtained today by The Tribune, putting to rest a more than seven-month engagement between the San Marino Unified School District and the longtime board member.
The settlement agreement includes no admission of wrongdoing by either party, no monetary relief for either party and Norgaard was required to dismiss the lawsuit, which he did through his attorney this afternoon at 2:43 p.m.
The agreement includes a code of conduct for school board members that specifically states that “board members can only shake hands when engaging school employees in all contexts.” The addition of this language directly addresses a topic that was raised in a district attorney’s declination of prosecution in a previous complaint against Norgaard, where a district employee claimed Norgaard had kissed her at a public event.
Along with the handshake provision, other language in the settlement includes a requirement that school board members will not visit any school site, district administrator, or employee, without prior written approval from the superintendent or his or her designee. Board members are also forbidden to initiate communications with any school employee via email, text or phone, with the exception of the superintendent.
The only events board members can attend on-site without prior approval are back-to-school nights, open houses and PTA/PTSA meetings.
The agreement includes a caveat stating “if a board member has a student in the school, the board member and the superintendent will work together to make reasonable accommodations consistent with typical parent-school interactions.”
In late January of this year, Norgaard was accused of sexual impropriety and investigated by the San Marino Police Department and the San Marino Unified School District. No charges were filed against Norgaard.
He soon filed a lawsuit in federal court against the San Marino Unified School District, Superintendent Dr. Alex Cherniss, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Linda de la Torre and Board Members C. Joseph Chang, Nam Jack, Lisa Link and Shelley Ryan for civil rights violations, including defamation of character, under the First and 14th Amendments of the Constitution. Norgaard was seeking unspecified compensatory, special and punitive damages as well as attorney fees. The longtime School Board member was also seeking a permanent injunction against the School District for what he claimed was the violation of his constitutional rights as a member of the SMUSD Board of Education.
Tuesday’s dismissal of the lawsuit brings an end to the case, which was a subject of discussion throughout the community since the announcement of the investigation.
“The litigation that school board member Chris Norgaard initiated against the San Marino Unified School District, four of its board members, its Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent has been resolved and will be dismissed,” a joint statement which was released with the settlement agreement said. “The parties are pleased with the result. All parties agree their prime objective is the education of the district’s students and that litigation does not advance that goal. The parties also agree that all district employees, administrators and board members are entitled to an environment free from improper conduct and that when concerns from employees are raised, it is the duty of the district to investigate and respond appropriately to them. The parties look forward to working together for the continued success of our San Marino Schools.”
Despite any disagreements that may have arisen from the litigation, Norgaard serves at the behest of the public and he can only be removed from office by a recall vote. His term will expire in November, 2020.
