Schools, Fox working on separation agreement

NORWALK — The Norwalk City Schools and former head football coach Todd Fox are working on a separation agreement, sources have told the Norwalk Reflector. Norwalk City Schools school board president Lisa Wick could not confirm anything, saying nothing official has happened. "They are working on things ... nothing is going to happen before our board meeting," she said. "Unless we have special meetings nothing can happen until we meet. They are working on it. We are working with our legal teams. In education, nothing happens overnight. It takes time. "I can't say anything until the board meeting. It should be on the agenda (if anything is going to happen). Right now we are talking with the attorneys. We do not have anything in black and white." The school board is set to meet again Tuesday, Dec. 13. At the start of his fifth season as football coach, it is alleged that 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. The board reported the actions of Fox to the Norwalk Police Department following a long investigation. "The board was briefed by Flannery Georgalis, LLC regarding the investigation into allegations of Mr. Fox regarding the football program, as well as the administration's handling of the investigation," the board released following its November meeting. "Based on the investigation, the district has reported Mr. Fox's conduct to the Norwalk Police Department and will be reporting the results of the investigation to the Ohio Department of Education. "In addition the board has asked its counsel to contact Mr. Fox's counsel regarding his resignation. In light of the investigation the district will be reviewing it's policies and procedures." The three players involved in the Aug. 10 incident were in juvenile court Huron County Juvenile Court on Tuesday. "One of the players admitted to an unlawful restraint charge and the prosecutor dismissed the hazing charge," court administrator Chris Mushett said. "The judge put him on probation and set a number of things, including to pay restitution and writing a letter of apology to the victim. "He is not allowed to participate in any Ohio High School Athletic Association activities until the victim is eligible at his new school." The other two players, who earlier had pleaded guilty to their charges, were also put on probation and will not be eligible to participate in any OHSAA activities until the victim becomes eligible at his new school, Mushett said. "Other than reporting to their probation officers ... if they don't screw up they won't be back in court," he added. The Reflector has filed a public records request to see the findings of the investigation and the cost of the investigation, but has not received anything from the school. Norwalk City Schools Superintendent Brad Cooley and Treasurer Joyce Dupont were unavailable for comment.