The settlement ends four years of litigation in a case filed by men who testified they were sexually abused and exploited by former New Hanover County Schools teacher Michael Earl Kelly. In addition to the $5.75 million, paid exclusively by Liberty Mutual and its subsidiaries, the school has agreed to expand training on recognizing and reporting abuse and publishing a report on its efforts to improve Title IX compliance and sexual abuse prevention. The school board expressed "sorrow" over the damage done by Kelly, but its statement did not include an apology or an admission of wrongdoing.