School District Settles Discrimination Lawuit

Trustees of the Bonita Unified school district have agreed to pay $100,000 to a current and former assistant superintendent to settle a discrimination lawsuit, officials said.

The settlement resolves a lawsuit filed by Assistant Supts. Peter Schiff and Lorna L. Horton against the district, which incorporates San Dimas and La Verne. Schiff and Horton each will receive $50,000.

Schiff, who is now superintendent of a district near San Diego, alleged that former Supt. Ron Raya and board member Robert Olander II had defamed him.

Horton alleged she had been sexual harassed by Raya, who was fired by the board in 1997. A Los Angeles Superior Court judge recently dismissed most of their claims against the district.

School officials in a statement said the settlement is not an admission of liability, adding: “Given the cost and time necessary to continue with this litigation . . . we have concluded the disposal of the claims by way of settle would best serve the interests of our community.”