Legal Loss for Oceanport Costs Schools $300K

The Oceanport School District will pay $300,000 over the next three years after losing a legal battle last year to provide Braille instruction to a legally-blind student.

The settlement will be paid out over three years from the district's surplus budget, according to Board President Colin Soyer at the March 25 special budget meeting. Of the award, $35,000 was covered by the district's insurance and the balance will be divided over three years. The district will pay out $140,000 in 2013 followed by two payments of $62,500 in 2014 and 2015.

The May 2012 ruling (which can be found alongside this article) found that a student, who is legally blind, should be provided Braille instruction by the district. Administrative Law Judge Lisa James-Beavers said in her order that the school district showed clear "bias against Braille.”

Board member Jay Coffey said at the meeting Monday that the board at that time had been advised by "outside influences" to deny the service. "The decision was based on legal expertise," he said.

Parent Nicole Goldsmith asked the board details about the legal settlement at the budget meeting and observed it "was a really big chunk." Coffey explained the financial details but the board agreed to hold off disclosing any further details until the meeting this Thursday when the board attorney would be in attendance.