West Cleveland News

A group of parents in Rocky River, Ohio have started an online petition advocating for a Vote of No Confidence against four administrators in the Rocky River School District Board of Education. The petition, which was created through Change.org, has gathered 564 signatures as of Oct. 9.

The parents behind the petition are demanding the removal of four key administrators, including superintendent Michael G. Shoaf, assistant superintendent Elizabeth Anderson, executive director of human resources Samuel Gifford, and executive director of pupil services Jennifer Norman. They believe that the current leadership of the school district is in a state of crisis and is lacking transparency, accountability, and excellence.

The petition states, "For the sake of our children, our educators, and our collective future, we insist that you initiate this new beginning by making the tough but necessary decisions that the situation warrants."

This call for change comes in the wake of recent reports of inappropriate behavior within the Rocky River school district. One such incident involved a School Resource Officer (SRO) named Michael Bernhardt, who was relieved of his position due to "inappropriate behavior" with students. The district released a statement informing parents of Bernhardt's firing after a police investigation revealed that he had been engaging in communication with a high school student that was inconsistent with his role as an SRO.

In another incident, the district placed high school principal Dr. Heath Horton on leave after a parent complained about his inappropriate relationships with students. The police report revealed that Horton had been texting, drinking alcohol, and smoking cigars with 17 former students, ranging in age from 17 to 23. He had also been asking 17-year-old students for sexual videos. Superintendent Michael Shoaf, who is one of the administrators targeted by the petition, stated that the district will continue its own investigation with assistance from the police.

The concerned parents hope that their petition will lead to a much-needed change in the leadership of the Rocky River School District Board of Education. They believe that by removing the current administrators, they can bring about a new beginning that prioritizes the well-being and education of their children.