COLUMBUS — Fourteen former Sidney City School District employees have filed complaints with the Ohio Civil Rights Commission.
According to Marry Turocy, director of Public Affairs and Civic Engagement, the names of those filing complaints are public record. However, the details of the complaint cannot be released until the cases are concluded.
Filing complains were Tracey Landrum, Charles Havener, Reba Tippie, Kenna Chavez, Judith Shepherd, Doug Zimmer, Brenda Thompson, ShaRonda Johnson, John Michalos, Renee Hamilton, Erika Foster-Wheeler, Charles Tucker Jr., Tiffani Foy and Jayne Evans.
The contracts of the staff members were non-renewed due to a reduction in force during the board of education’s May 18, 2020, meeting. Landrum, Havener, Tippie, Shepherd, Thompson, Johnson, Hamilton, Foster-Wheeler, Tucker, and Foy were all aides with the district. Michalos was a member of the IT staff.
Zimmer resigned at the May 18, 2020, board meeting from his position as assistant principal. He was then hired as a teacher beginning Aug. 1, 2020. At the June 15, 2020, board meeting, the board accepted Zimmer’s retirement request effective July 1.
Chavez was a secretary with the district. Her position was a reduction in force/nonrenewal at the June 15 board meeting.
Jayne Evans was a school psychologist with the district. Her contract was suspended at the June 15 meeting.
Turocy said, pursuant to ORC 4112.05(B)(2), all records pertaining to an investigation pending initial determination are confidential. Initial determination can take up to one year from the date of file, so these records may not be made public for some time.
An investigator has been assigned to the case. No further information will be released at this time.
Sidney City Schools Superintendent Bob Humble said the district has received the complaints and they have been turned over to the district’s attorney.
