Chicago Public Schools’ $17.5M settlement in sex abuse case helps ‘pursue justice’ for survivors, lawyers say 

A $17.5 million settlement has been reached involving a former Chicago Public Schools (CPS) high school dean convicted of committing sex abuse and assault against a student.

“While the District denies any wrongdoing, we recognize the seriousness of the allegations in this matter and the impact the student has reported experiencing,” said a Dec. 3 CPS statement quoted by the local ABC affiliate.

“After careful consideration, the District chose to resolve this case through a settlement in order to avoid the uncertainty, cost, and emotional toll of a trial for all involved.”

The former dean of Little Village Lawndale High School, Brian Crowder, was sentenced in August to 22 years in prison.

‘Critical step toward justice’

Attorneys representing the survivor in the case against Crowder released a statement after the guilty verdict, describing it as “a critical step toward justice – not only for our brave client who testified this week, but for every young woman who was targeted, manipulated, and abused by staff within the district.”

“We commend the jury for seeing the truth and holding Mr. Crowder accountable,” read the statement from Stinar Gould Grieco & Hensley. “But this case is about more than one man. It raises urgent questions about institutional failures and the systemic grooming of students by trusted adults within the Chicago Public School system. That’s why we continue to pursue justice on all fronts, including the ongoing civil litigation on behalf of these survivors.”

As previously reported by The Lion, 12 former CPS students have shared stories of sexual abuse by public-school officials – with some investigations taking more than three years to resolve.

Although several of those officials had been banned from working at schools or placed on “Do Not Hire” lists, at least two had continued working in a suburban district while allegations remained pending against them, according to the local NBC affiliate.

“The suburban district told NBC 5 Investigates they were not aware because Chicago Public Schools had not told them that educators were under investigation. Chicago Public Schools later told NBC 5 Investigates that it notifies the Illinois Board of Education about those on the Do Not Hire list, and shares information to districts – when it is requested.”

Marty Gould, an attorney representing former students, emphasized this sexual misconduct as occurring not only after the students turned 18, but also while some were still in high school.

“We have multiple different administrators and teachers that are grooming and preying on students and sexually abusing them,” he said. “It is just beyond the pale.”