Santa Cruz City Schools Pays $4.5 Million to Settle Sexual Abuse Claims Against Former Educator

Santa Cruz City Schools (SCCS) has reached a $4.5 million settlement in a lawsuit filed by the law firm of Cerri, Boskovich & Allard on behalf of two former students who alleged they were sexually abused by Steven Myers, a former SCCS teacher and principal, between 1987 and 1991. Each of the two men, now 49 years old, will receive $2.25 million for the abuse they endured during their middle and high school years.

Steven Myers, who was hired by SCCS in 1981 as principal of Branciforte Junior High School, was also the founder of the “Traveling School Summer Program,” a pilot initiative later integrated into the district’s curriculum. This program targeted students with behavioral and academic challenges, many from unstable home environments. Both plaintiffs, identified in court documents as John Roe 3 and John Roe 4, participated in the program during the late 1980s and early 1990s. They alleged that Myers used his position to create an environment that enabled years of abuse.

The lawsuit revealed disturbing details about Myers’ conduct during the Traveling School program. He reportedly incorporated massages into the curriculum, exclusively targeting boys, often shirtless, and required students to massage him in return. On designated “Body Theme Days,” students were instructed to wear minimal clothing; Myers himself wore a tight Speedo and required boys to do the same. Additionally, Myers allegedly provided drugs to students and invited them to his home for activities such as hot tub sessions. The lack of oversight allowed him to share rooms or beds with students during trips.

One of the plaintiffs, John Roe 3, expressed hope that this settlement would serve as a wake-up call for SCCS to implement stronger protections for students. “This lawsuit could have been easily avoided if Santa Cruz City Schools had safety measures and oversight in place,” he stated. John Roe 4 shared how the abuse profoundly impacted his life, leading to struggles with boundaries and substance abuse as he coped with decades of secrecy. “When secrets are told, they lose their power,” he said, emphasizing the importance of speaking out for healing and closure.

Attorney Lauren Cerri highlighted the significance of this case despite the decades that have passed since the abuse occurred. “The fact that it happened so long ago doesn’t mean it’s OK or that they can get away with it,” she said. She hopes this resolution provides validation and closure for her clients while underscoring systemic failures in safeguarding children.

Testimonies during the case revealed that no policies or training existed at the time regarding Myers’ behavior or interactions with students. Leaders of the Traveling School admitted there was no district oversight during trips or at Myers’ home visits with students. Additionally, SCCS employees reportedly ignored warnings about Myers’ inappropriate behavior dating back to his tenure at Crittenden Middle School in Mountain View during the 1970s.

Myers resigned from SCCS in 1991 amid growing concerns but has never faced criminal prosecution due to statutes of limitations. His teaching credentials were later revoked in California and Colorado for sexual misconduct. Attorney Lauren Cerri is also representing two former Crittenden Middle School students who allege similar abuse by Myers in the 1970s; their case is set to go to trial next summer.

This settlement underscores both past institutional failures and the ongoing need for robust safeguards to protect students from abuse within educational systems.

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