SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) -- Springfield will pay nearly 15 million dollars to victims of alleged sexual abuse at a middle school. This will be the largest of such settlements in Massachusetts history.

A story we’ve been covering for almost three years now, following graphic allegations against a former teacher within Springfield Public Schools.

It all stems back to March 2023, when now former Springfield STEM Middle Academy history teacher and athletic coach Robert Gayle allegedly groomed, abused and sexually harassed middle school students on his watch.

Gayle was then arrested during the summer of that year, with attorneys saying multiple victims were involved in these allegations.

Western Mass News was at a press conference led by attorneys representing multiple victims and their families. One of the two settlements has set a new record in the Commonwealth at 13 million dollars, with the other settlement being 1.8 million.

We learned on Tuesday that the costs will be covered by the schools’ department’s budget for the next two fiscal years. One of the victim’s attorneys, Robert Ditusa saying, “The City of Springfield categorically failed in its responsibility to keep these children safe, and the amount of the settlement directly reflects the magnitude of that failure.”

Attorney Ditusa further explains the significance of these historic settlements, stating, “These amounts reflect the harm done to the two children and their families, and they are also a testament to the strength of the survivors (and) their families who had the bravery to speak out, seek justice, and demand accountability.”

Editor’s note: be advised, the following details may be disturbing to some

It was brought to the attention of school administrators that Gayle drove female students’ home from volleyball practice, gave them food & gifts, and favored girls over boys.

According to court documents, at least one student reported that Gayle had rubbed her shoulder, touched her waist, and left a “hickey” on one of her breasts.

Gayle faces multiple charges including aggravated statutory rape of a child, indecent assault and battery of a person 14 or over, and aggravated indecent assault and battery of a person under the age of 14.

Attorney Laura Mangini says, “What happened to them did not happen because Robert Gayle acted in the shadows. What happened to them happened because those people entrusted with the care of our children chose to ignore what was happening right in front of their eyes.”

The two civil lawsuits that followed named Gayle, former STEM principal Luis Martinez, who resigned during the investigation, the school district’s school improvement officer Rhonda Jacobs, and the city of Springfield as defendants.

In a statement to Western Mass News, City Solicitor Stephen Buoniconti says in part:

“The School Department has invested significantly in programming and training so that all staff members are more educated on the signs of improper relationships between staff and students and report those concerns to the proper authorities right away, all in the effort of preventing future harm to students.”

We also asked Buoniconti which part of the budget will cover the settlements, and who will be impacted. So far, we have not received an answer to that question.

We also have been in touch with Springfield Public Schools; however, they cannot further comment on the matter at this time.

We also tried to get in touch with the office of Mayor Domenic Sarno, but so far, we have not heard back.

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