Multnomah ESD Board approves settlement agreement with employee

For Immediate Release

June 26, 2015

Contact: Laura Conroy
503-257-1516
lconroy@mesd.k12.or.us
www.mesd.k12.or.us

Multnomah ESD Board approves settlement agreement with employee

The Multnomah ESD (MESD) Board voted today in a special session to approve a settlement agreement with employee Brett Bigham. In a statement read by Chair Bernie Giusto, the board explained that the
decision to approve the agreement came after lengthy deliberation in which it considered both its fiscal responsibilities and the agency’s mission.

“We could continue this course and enter into what we believe would be a successful yet protracted and arduous litigation process. Our mission, however, is not to win lawsuits. Rather, our mission is to serve students.”
As part of the agreement the agency and its insurer, PACE, will make a financial payment of $140,000 to the employee. This sum is equal to the estimated cost of litigation which would distract employees from their primary responsibility of serving students. In exchange, Mr. Bigham has released all current and future claims he has or might have against the agency.