Grandview School District settles lawsuit for $1 million

GRANDVIEW, Wash. — The Grandview School District has reached a $1 million settlement in a federal lawsuit filed on behalf of a deaf student.

The Yakima Herald-Republic reports that the boy’s lawyer, Karen Koehler, says he was “warehoused” in special education classes even though he was hearing impaired, not developmentally delayed.

She says what happened to Jose Garcia was “hideous” and says the school system failed him. Superintendent Kevin Chase says he believes his educators worked really hard for the boy.

Garcia, now 22, is expected to graduate in November. He was allowed to walk with the 2015 class last month.

The total cost of the case was about $2.3 million but the school district won’t pay all of it. The district’s insurance provider will cover the full cost.

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