Local media are reporting that Tara Yellen—who says former Brighton English teacher Gary Wiener sexually abused her while she attended BHS—has settled her lawsuit against the district for $1.75 million. The D&C's report is here (paywalled) and WHEC's is here. “It was so unexpected for me how healing this process has been,” Yellen told the D&C. “I was less focused on the outcome than the voice that I was provided. I felt so invisible in high school.”

Despite the justice rolling down, BCSD has shown no genuine efforts to take accountability for its past mistakes, nor to specify how it will avoid such mistakes in the future. Instead, it has sought to minimize and to obfuscate.

The statement the district sent to WHEC read: "No one who was a subject of the litigation, has worked in the district for 25 years or more. Reaching this resolution, the district, and plaintiff, and her counsel, worked collaboratively. Together, a resolution was reached that addresses a serious claim and respects the rights of survivors of claims brought under the CVA. Brighton Central School District has, and continues to be, committed to working proactively to ensure the safety of our students and staff."

Nothing but empty boilerplate, and deceptive boilerplate at that. Gary Wiener was at BHS until at least the year 2000. If the district is claiming Wiener has not worked for them in 25 years, simple math tells us their statement is a lie.