[Lone Gunman]

School District Agrees To Pay Mom $1.2 Million

CLEARWATER, Fla. -- The Pinellas County school district has agreed to pay $1.2 million to the mother of an 8 year old killed when a school bus driver dropped her off on the wrong side of a street.

The Pinellas County school district agreed to pay the money to Michelle Allen after a mediation session with her attorney Tuesday.

If the School Board approves the settlement, which is expected, the district will pay $200,000. That is the maximum allowed under a state law that caps liability for school districts and other public agencies. The district's insurance company would pay the remaining $1 million.

District officials said bus driver, William Ralston, was negligent when he dropped off Brooke Ingoldsby on the wrong side of a busy street. Brooke, a third grader at James B. Sanderlin Elementary, was hit by a vehicle as she tried to cross five lanes of rush-hour traffic Feb. 11.

Ralston, then 75, has since resigned.

Board Chairwoman Carol Cook praised the mediation efforts.

"I'm pleased it has been handled in as gentle and as tactful a manner as possible without putting the family through any more grief," Cook said. "Unfortunately, we were at fault. This is the least we can do to let the parents know we are willing to accept that responsibility."