Board expected to hear about investigation

NORWALK — Representatives from the Cleveland law firm, Flannery Georgalis LCC, are expected to be on hand at Tuesday night's Norwalk City Schools board of education meeting to deliver their report on a pair of hazing incidents that went on earlier this year with the football team. Board members received a report last week from the law firm. The Reflector has filed a public records request to see the report. In his fifth season as football coach, it is alleged that Todd Fox "failed to report inappropriate behavior between members of the football team that occurred on the football field in June 2022," according to a statement released by Superintendent Brad Cooley. Fox was placed on administrative leave on Sept. 23 — the morning of a home football game vs. Bellevue — following several allegations of inappropriate behavior among players on his team. Two specific incidents have been referenced by parents and school staff. One alleged incident in June involved some type of inappropriate behavior among football players during a "sleepover" at Contractors Stadium. Exactly what happened there has not been disclosed by the school district. More is known about a second incident on Aug. 10 in the football players' locker room. A Norwalk police report stated that two players restrained a third player while another rubbed a sex toy on the player. Other items on Tuesday's agenda: SPECIAL PRESENTATIONRick Hudgel, Principal at Main Street Intermediate, and Nick Kish, Principal at League Elementary — School Report Card, Building Goals and Action StepsIII. PUBLIC PARTICIPATIONEach person who wishes to address the Board will be asked to give his/her name and address. Remarks should be limited to three minutes in length. If after everyone who wishes to do so has had an opportunity to speak, additional comments can be made up to a total allotted time of thirty minutes. Nutritional Standards reportThe district utilizes multiple policies that focus on nutritional standards adopted by the state and enforced by the district. These policies include: • EFG (Student Wellness Program)• EFF (Food Sale Standards)• IGAE (Health Education)• EFH (Food Allergies)• EF/EFB (Food Service Management/Free and Reduced-Price Food Service) In order to comply with the standards, the district utilizes many different techniques and internal safeguards. The district only purchases from vetted vendors who ensure that all products meet nutritional standards and that labeling of their products is clear and concise. The daily availability of Fresh Fruits and Veggies, that are sourced as locally as possible, helps encourage students to make healthier decisions about their meals. All the recipes are dietician approved, and with the utilization of an online menu, all nutritional information is available for every meal. The district also strictly enforces the Smart Snack guidelines and ensures that any food or beverage served during the restricted times complies with those standards. The cafeteria also performs Nutrition Education in the district at minimum of 2 times per year and has many internal programs that are designed to help students make healthier choices and to introduce them to foods that may be out of their normal diet. The district also strictly enforces an approved Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point plan. HACCP is an internationally recognized system for reducing the risk of safety hazards in food. The district mandates that employees attend periodic training on the HACCP plan and on food safety in general. In addition to the food safety training, the employees must meet the USDA required minimum hours for professional development on a yearly basis. Overall, the district has many programs and policies in place to ensure they are meeting the state standards and the district strives to not only meet but exceed those standards. EXECUTIVE SESSION PURPOSE: For the purposes of compensation of a public employee and employment of a public employee. TREASURER'S REPORTSFive-year forecastFamily Medical Leave ActPERSONNELResignationsWes Douglas, teacher, for the purpose of retirement, effective May 31, 2023 Kim Majoy, teacher, for the purpose of retirement, effective May 31, 2023 Barb Widman, secretary, effective Nov. 1, 2022 Brandon Viock, NMS Wrestling Coach ***Employment of Cara Lang, Speech-Language Pathologist, 1-year contract, MA bracket, 10 years experience, effective 11/28/22, pending completion & receipt of all requirements for employmentEmployment of Ryan Scheel, Custodian, 120-day probationary contract, step 0, effective Oct. 24, 2022Employment as tutors for Pleasant Literacy program effective Nov. 14, 2022 at member rate for the 2022-23 school year to be paid with ESSER/ARP funds:Anne DayDebbie LefflerTracey SommersLaura WinklerEPAC CoordinatorMorgan Savage, effective Oct. 12, 2022, at member rate for a one-year contractMemorandum Of Understanding with Oapse union and revised Administrator AgreementSubstitute(s)Madisyn Alt, certified, effective 10/25/2022Rebecca Clark, classified, effective 10/19/2022Karlee Conley, classified, effective 10/13/2022Katie Potter, certified, effective 10/18/2022Keith Ridge, classifiedTracey Sommers, certified & classified, effective 10/20/2022Donna Toth, classified, effective 11/3/2022Laura Winkler, certified, effective 11/1/2022Alyssa Zeigler, certified, effective 10/25/2022 EPAC team member stipend at member rate (2022)Jody ChaffeeRyan CooperriderTim LovatoWill KishKaty LaserRobyn RogersKyle Scheid Employment — Supplemental Contracts Norwalk High SchoolDustin Baker, Spring Conditioning Coach, code 13, step 0 Employment — Special ContractsNorwalk Middle SchoolMatthew Goostree, Wrestling Coach, code 7, step 0 Norwalk High SchoolNichole Cross, Asst. Swim Coach, code 8, step 1Bryce Ostheimer, Winter Conditioning Coach, code 13, step 0 Volunteers — CoachesNorwalk High School — WrestlingPete Hernandez Change of classification for Leona Lortcher effective Nov. 1, 2022 Intermittent unpaid leave of absence per ORC 3319.13 for Melanie Ayala Lugo-Bowers, for educational purposes, during the 2022-2023 school year. Volunteer(s) — ClassroomCassidie AkinsKamryn BrantDaniel IngramQuentin O'BrienJaimie PerryRebecca RileyJulie Tyler