Tacoma Public Schools has agreed to pay $2.65 million to settle a federal lawsuit alleging that a special-education teacher abused a young, nonverbal student at Skyline Elementary. Under the agreement, approved by a federal judge, roughly $1.45 million will go into a special-needs trust for the child after attorneys' fees and other costs are deducted.
The suit was filed by Tiffany Haskins on behalf of her son, identified in court records as O.W., who has autism and is functionally nonverbal, according to The News Tribune. The outlet reports that a district investigation concluded the child was targeted and that his teacher, Kathleen Skaar, flipped a table, threw a chair that hit him, grabbed or pulled him by the wrist or forearm, and pushed him with her body and hands.
Judge Signs Off On Settlement And Trust
U.S. District Judge Benjamin H. Settle signed a revised order on July 7 approving the $2,650,000 settlement and detailing how the money will be distributed, according to Justia Dockets & Filings. The order authorizes payment to the plaintiffs' lawyers and directs that $1,457,113.15 be placed in a special-needs trust for O.W., along with specific awards for attorney fees and litigation costs approved by the court.
District Probe Found Repeated Misconduct, Staff Say
In interviews with a district investigator, fifteen staff members and several parents described a pattern in which Skaar routinely yelled at students, grabbed or pulled them, and ignored their special-education needs, The News Tribune reports. Skaar denied physically or emotionally abusing students. Public records show she was placed on administrative leave in May 2023 and fired in November 2023, and she has not been criminally charged.
How The Settlement Will Be Used
The revised court order spells out that the settlement will cover legal fees and fund a trust meant to support the child's long-term care, including mental-health treatment and private schooling, according to Justia Dockets & Filings. The filing notes that a settlement guardian ad litem reviewed the proposal before the judge signed off on the trust and allowed modest holdbacks for potential additional costs.
Claims, Reporting And Next Steps
The federal complaint alleged that the district failed to protect a particularly vulnerable student and sought damages under state and federal law. Local coverage indicates that staff had been flagging concerns inside the system for years and that the district ultimately reported its findings to Child Protective Services, according to KIRO 7. Attorneys for the plaintiff said the settlement will help the child move forward, while the defendants continued to deny the allegations in court filings.
Why This Case Is Bigger Than One Classroom
This lawsuit lands in the middle of growing scrutiny over how special-education programs are staffed, monitored, and held accountable, particularly for students who have limited ability to report abuse. ProPublica and partner outlets have reported on systemic gaps that advocates say can leave students with disabilities at heightened risk when warning signs from workers and families go unheeded.
