Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInPERRYSBURG TWP.
Ohio (WTVG) - Firefighters from six different departments worked together to extinguish a large field fire Friday
It happened early Friday evening in a Perrysburg Township field
not far from 199 between Dowling and Reitz
According to Perrysburg Township’s Fire Chief
it appears to have started from a burn barrel
The windy conditions caused it the fire to spread very quickly
Lake Township and Troy Township worked to put out most of the fire in about half an hour
The chief said a farmer’s discs went a long way in dousing the flames
Crews treated a farmer who was experiencing some chest pain there
but fire officials said there were no fire-related injuries
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Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInPERRYSBURG, Ohio (WTVG) - The independent investigation pertaining to a former Perrysburg who resigned his position has now been released.
We’re getting new information about what led to the resignation of a Perrysburg teacher late last year
This fills in some of the gaps many parents have been wondering about since this came to light in December
Plus the high school principals' role in all this will be examined
The report does talk about allegations but no charges were filed
in fact in some cases police did investigate but did not find enough evidence to file charges
lots of questions arose at Perrysburg High School
the district hired an outside law firm to investigate
Principal Aaron Cookson was made aware of an allegation in 2022 according to the report
A current teacher alleging inappropriate behavior when they were a student at the hands of that now former teacher
Principal Cookson did not find enough information to issue discipline
In 2023 two students reported the former teacher making an inappropriate comment during a CPR demonstration
Even with two students saying the comment happened
the principal wrote that “the alleged misconduct could not be confirmed through the PHS administrative team’s investigative efforts.”
Just before the resignation the report documents the most serious allegation of sexual contact with a young woman who had recently graduated back in the 1990s
This instance was never reported to authorities by the alleged victim but was being unearthed for the first time
That former student did not speak with investigators but a family member did
That teacher who resigned was asked questioned and acknowledged having that young person at his home a few times
He admits in this report to kissing the girl on two occasions
The investigative report notes this teacher' credibility suffered in that his admissions were given in slow drips But also noted zero evidence was given by that woman who was not able to be reached during this investigation
Thursday statement from Perrysburg Schools:
We understand that questions have arisen following the recent resignation of a longtime staff member after allegations were made concerning his conduct more than two decades ago
We recognize the importance of transparency and we will continue to share details of the school district’s investigation and findings with our school community while also balancing the legal and privacy rights that limit the details we may share regarding matters that involve students
including those involving former students from decades ago
During the last week of school in May 2024
a former student made an allegation that a teacher had engaged in inappropriate behavior during his instruction in a physical education class during the early 2000s
a second former student also made a complaint about the teacher’s handling of a dance team injury while he was working as an Assistant Athletic Trainer and assisting that student along with her coach in the early 2010s
The school district immediately opened an investigation
The former student with a complaint from the early 2000s told us that in 2022 she had filed a report with the police regarding the alleged incident
The school district was never made aware of the report and no charges were filed by the police
We encouraged the former student with a complaint from the early 2010s to file a report with the police
no charges were pursued by law enforcement
the original complainant shared a rumor that the teacher may have had an inappropriate relationship with a student in the late 1990s
So far as the school district can determine
Perrysburg Schools had never previously been made aware of this allegation
Several attempts to speak to the alleged 1990s victim were unsuccessful
several attempts to speak with a possible witness regarding that alleged incident were also unsuccessful
Attempts to identify and locate a witness with direct knowledge were unavailing despite the investigator’s efforts to contact former staff and students
Perrysburg Schools consulted with Wood County Child Protective Services (CPS) and the Wood County Prosecutor’s office in June 2024 regarding the allegations
In addition to consultations with the Wood County Prosecutor and Child Protective Services
Perrysburg Schools initiated its own investigation using a third-party attorney
Some of those efforts were described above
was interviewed by the investigating attorney
He admitted that he had one physical encounter with the student at his residence
either immediately prior to the end of the school year or days after in the summer in the late 1990’s
He denied that any inappropriate conduct with the student had occurred prior to that evening and claimed that this inappropriate conduct did not happen again
Henline was placed on administrative leave the day he was interviewed to remove him from contact with our students
Administration met with him the following week and asked for his resignation
the Perrysburg Board of Education would take steps to initiate his termination
He will remain out of school using leave available to him under his contract until his resignation date
We accepted his resignation rather than re-victimize any student or former student who might have been required to testify during a termination proceeding
We are aware of the findings detailed in the investigation report concerning allegations against the former staff member
We are grateful for the efforts of the investigator and the staff members who worked to ensure this report was thorough and comprehensive
including the concerns raised about the actions of certain staff members during the investigation process
We are committed to addressing these issues transparently and ensuring that our school district’s policies and procedures prioritize the safety and well-being of all students and staff members
we acknowledge the report’s findings that his actions fell short of the expectations for handling sensitive allegations appropriately
we will be working to implement necessary corrective actions to ensure the integrity of future investigations
We have begun the process of evaluating this information as it pertains to Mr
We will follow the school district’s established policies and guidelines to address any performance issues in a manner that respects due process and ensures accountability
We remain steadfast in our commitment to fostering a safe
and accountable school environment for all
This includes holding all staff members to the highest standards of professionalism and ensuring that our policies and practices reflect our unwavering dedication to student and staff member safety
Henline’s resignation during the course of the school district’s investigation to Ohio’s State Board of Education’s Office of Professional Conduct
which is authorized to conduct its own investigation and determine whether to take action to suspend or revoke Mr
The safety and well-being of our students and staff members remains our highest priority
We have put in place several ways for students
and the school community to bring concerns to our attention
The Safer Ohio School Tip Line may be accessed at (844) 723-3764 and accepts calls and texts twenty-four hours a day
We also have a crisis text line where anyone can submit reports to the number 741-741 and texting “4hope.”
If anyone has additional information or needs to report a concern, please use the reporting services identified above, or feel free to contact Don Christie, Perrysburg Schools Executive Director of Human Resources, at (419) 874-9131, ext. 2131 or by email at dchristie@perrysburgschools.net
We recognize the community’s desire for transparency and will continue to provide transparency to the extent we are permitted under the law
Here is the report released by the district to the 13 Action News I-TEAM:
Perrysburg HS Investigation Report 011025 by Jake Pietrasz on Scribd
Perrysburg HS Investigation Report 011025 by Jake Pietrasz on Scribd
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Governor DeWine in Zanesville with representatives from Zanesville High School and the Muskingum Ohio Valley Education Service Center (MOV-ESC)
Governor DeWine visited Zanesville High School to tour the in-school driver's education program that operates in partnership with the Muskingum Ohio Valley Education Service Center
The program was created in October 2022 and has since provided essential driver's education to more than 1,800 students.
Governor DeWine proposes the creation of a grant program to help more schools launch similar driver training programs.
The grant program would help schools partner with independent driver training academies or start their own driver training programs to make this training more accessible and affordable
Governor DeWine visited the YMCA Child Development Center at Owens Community College to tour the facility and discuss how giving families access to affordable
quality childcare stimulates the state’s workforce and economy
The center serves families that are eligible for support through Ohio's Childcare Choice Voucher Program
which continues to be a priority in the Governor's new budget proposal.
finding affordable and quality childcare has become difficult," said Governor DeWine
"It is time that we help families lift this burden and create a stronger workforce in Ohio."
For more information on Governor DeWine's biennial executive budget proposal, visit goveror.ohio.gov.