[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6180320,"mediaKeyId","5119668-28cc8c45aa582bf0de5cff1a5ea50dd6","parentId",5119668,"title","Bus driver raises Title IX concerns; board votes to enter executive session to consider staff complaints","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",7175000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5119668-28cc8c45aa582bf0de5cff1a5ea50dd6&start=7175&end=7175","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5119668-28cc8c45aa582bf0de5cff1a5ea50dd6/thumbnail_7175000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6180320/Ohio/Bus-driver-raises-Title-IX-concerns-board-votes-to-enter-executive-session-to-consider-staff-complaints","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6180320-7d5d092564ddb96c999cc3e7c01f7abc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771132449&Signature=flIcRm67Z2BgxAVJ4GUUIdeHZODc7WBQmMYWkRjGL1WIxPCazNdYQjeiFhmoa9rC1Ep2~KBJNiEOlTVgZg8BWcOqbEsknuwav7kzuOuJMT6Kh7mtYAcrFIw6HmGBpRYlOweYJK0Gr0RSgQXcmXuTAOCdtS2UnCpElLQALWYw1i-VDqqB3BR7oSgggC~4Nkz9Befv-PfpSLcU9P8R-wjmj4haGBvoPsMuqGHnGR6PslsbPt1IM13Ck-ZLvfHx4vNi6JZj4EclYcKAQdMZedXgYusb8cHchmBX-nlGhyftzAO3COQq-zTqrHP~GXtD3uNFyKCuHIibfsm38VLld6M-GQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Little Miami Local School District","date","2025-07-01T00:09:43Z","article","During the public‑comment portion of the Little Miami Local School District board meeting on June 30, Samantha Pitzer, identified herself as a bus driver, Little Miami graduate and district parent and said she had filed a Title IX complaint and expected fairness, safety and dignity in the process. \"What I have experienced instead has been confusion, gaslighting, and a process that has made me and others feel invisible, unheard, and unprotected,\" Pitzer said.

Pitzer said she brought anonymous feedback from other transportation staff who are reluctant to speak publicly and urged the board to \"do the right thing even when it's hard.\" Her remarks concluded with a request that employees not be forced to choose between \"their dignity and their job.\"

Shortly after public comment, the board voted to go into executive session to \"consider the investigation of charges or complaints against a public employee, official, licensee, or student.\" Board minutes record that trustees entered executive session for two matters; a roll‑call vote to enter executive session was taken and recorded as yes by all members present. Board leaders cautioned that any action that might follow would be taken in open session as required by law.

The transcript does not record any outcomes from the executive session portion of the meeting; the board noted the possibility that action could be taken after the closed discussion, and attendees were told that any such action would be recorded in the open minutes.

\"This is hard for me to come up here and speak,\" Pitzer said. \"I'm doing it because I care for the people who show up in this district every single day.\"","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of Education Meeting Date: June 30th, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","A Little Miami bus driver publicly described filing a Title IX complaint and alleged staff were \"gaslit\" and not protected; the board then voted unanimously to enter executive session to consider investigations of complaints against employees, saying action might follow the closed session.","taxTitle","Little Miami Local, School Districts, Ohio","taxId",38704,"location","Ohio","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_46":81,"_48":82,"_50":83,"_52":84,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":85,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":86,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6180324,"Board approves year‑end appropriations and $195,000 transfer to cover athletic fund shortfall",551,4574000,5125000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5119668-28cc8c45aa582bf0de5cff1a5ea50dd6&start=4574&end=5125","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5119668-28cc8c45aa582bf0de5cff1a5ea50dd6/thumbnail_4574000.jpg","/articles/6180324/Ohio/Board-approves-yearend-appropriations-and-195000-transfer-to-cover-athletic-fund-shortfall","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6180324-48df5c15aed68058794e082f3df9e998/orig.mp4?Expires=1771132449&Signature=WXl5qtNf0sZpy45HymTQWBkf7JMZNFHwmAcOmedpCeTLWkXqgPdgaAkqGOKypX4uNEm7GVZOhAweaiTF0GbH9lGaOKzsM9Xy62gRwDK2G14wR3yXP-HTt9~aRKLifH8Q367ZbSQnhpiUv1PP6CXonWWcDvvEF96J28mcz9cqDp2WJaKIAeY5epthXSd36bcbKfsKde~1KTe8FwmcDoZVutbzbgu3aAAMFknG5MEbXtQV1i2nOhXHOVdYaPND6HlLNMWMhn2nEscZ-Na8UZCCzBMNYk58YQkgK0VbceN3D7mWVlv4vjNCd~2PHSSTHbRoWcGPBvr2xMd6mSqc8D~vnQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At its June 30 meeting, the Little Miami Local School District board approved the district’s May financial reports, a slate of contracts, final permanent appropriations for fiscal 2025 and temporary appropriations for fiscal 2026. Treasurer Michael Ganda (name as in transcript: Mr. Ganda) reviewed the documents before the votes.

The board approved a transfer of $195,000 from the general fund to the athletic fund to address a deficit that, according to the treasurer, is driven by increased team participation, higher referee and equipment costs and lower pay-to-play revenue than expenses. \"If we didn't do this, we'd be ending with a big deficit in the athletic fund,\" the treasurer said during discussion; the motion carried on roll call vote.

Treasurer Ganda also advised the board that property and casualty premiums, including cyber insurance, have risen substantially; he said the district’s overall insurance carrier renewal reflected roughly a 25% increase over the prior year. He noted last year’s premium was about $250,000 and that the market has seen industrywide increases.

Board members approved contracts with several service providers (special-education services, nursing services, occupational therapy vendors and insurance brokerage), final amended certificates of estimated resources and the district’s temporary appropriations for the coming fiscal year so the district could legally continue spending on July 1.

Trustees also approved personnel actions, field trip waivers and other routine items during the meeting. No significant reductions or structural changes to the budget were enacted at this session; the board signed off on the financial housekeeping items required at fiscal year end.

\"This will get us out of the negative and throw just a little bit of seed money in there,\" the treasurer said of the athletic fund transfer. The motion to transfer funds passed on roll call.","The board approved monthly financial reports, contract renewals, final appropriations and a $195,000 transfer from the general fund to the athletic fund to cover a projected deficit; trustees were told insurance premiums rose about 25% industrywide.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_46":93,"_48":94,"_50":95,"_52":96,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":97,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":98,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6180329,"Superintendent recommends removing '13 Reasons Why' from middle school library after curriculum review",286,2750000,3036000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5119668-28cc8c45aa582bf0de5cff1a5ea50dd6&start=2750&end=3036","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5119668-28cc8c45aa582bf0de5cff1a5ea50dd6/thumbnail_2750000.jpg","/articles/6180329/Ohio/Superintendent-recommends-removing-13-Reasons-Why-from-middle-school-library-after-curriculum-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6180329-6a42e04077c7f5e10839db7cec07267f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771132449&Signature=ccADVyM91rthmTw5UZi4oXY7eXe6sMZ8yzITy4mS--LY7Nxp6McmsT1nfc6zIF61GR9FMslFK5mHBFfM855LsVj0YkHtTscaZg0Oxwz9W8EFdyh7PCcLvQOfaXr9y3-ZnpxzxiwS01mqB6EEM05FOmK92YTy4VLOVNXDgGWUS6z7G5yW4leq-AwoGPn-jNo7o8tI~ZTKTOStLJzs4qpwUDQS--FhMurltdgtPHMJqt55yD6FNnEj-ncn7Tj3kNAY~PiSJ-rB6s-nb2vq5IBngrSXUt1gfv45ZSrclw0HuXIDMtU2b~7iQwOE4~7cokt2xJPSyBBgmV-AVtNvhogX2Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Little Miami Local School District superintendent told the board on June 30 that a curriculum review committee had reviewed 12 challenged middle‑school library books and recommended retaining them in the collection, but the superintendent said she would remove one title — Jay Asher’s 13 Reasons Why — from the middle school catalog before the next school year.

The district convened a 16‑member curriculum review committee after concerns were raised about 12 books in the middle school library. The committee reviewed the titles and recommended that all 12 remain available; the superintendent said she read several of the books herself and, after reviewing 13 Reasons Why, decided it posed a risk to students with suicide ideation and would be removed from the middle school catalog. She said the committee’s members were divided on that specific title: three of the four committee members she spoke to either disagreed with her call or did not voice support; one said she might appeal the superintendent’s removal decision.

The superintendent said the removal could be appealed under the district’s book‑challenge procedures and that she had already asked that the title be taken out of the district catalog prior to the start of the next school year. She characterized the other titles as not meeting her threshold for removal, but noted varying committee opinions and the potential for appeal.

No board vote was recorded on the matter at the June 30 meeting; the superintendent presented the committee’s minutes and said she would act to remove the one title as a preemptive safety step for students.

\"When I first started reading [13 Reasons Why] ... I thought, you know what? This is a book that everybody should read,\" she said, explaining that the title can be harmful when read by students with suicidal ideation. \"I am recommending that we remove that book from our library.\"","A district curriculum review committee recommended keeping 11 of 12 challenged middle‑school titles, but district leadership recommended removing Jay Asher’s 13 Reasons Why from the middle school catalog and asked it be taken out before next school year; the committee’s decision may be appealed.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_46":105,"_48":106,"_50":107,"_52":108,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":109,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":110,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6180334,"Board hears review of retirement \"pickup\" benefits; staff estimate about $500,000 annual cost",812,3298000,4110000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5119668-28cc8c45aa582bf0de5cff1a5ea50dd6&start=3298&end=4110","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5119668-28cc8c45aa582bf0de5cff1a5ea50dd6/thumbnail_3298000.jpg","/articles/6180334/Ohio/Board-hears-review-of-retirement-pickup-benefits-staff-estimate-about-500000-annual-cost","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6180334-f33a4102b3c9a92141118ed0490e88a4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771132449&Signature=ox380YcqSgdm~gBpMPdc~UVJf9D7tKwPjTORzaOZ1WsoLBtyt6aeusYjwYdZE4WXllSheCMxKe8x8QjbLdvL-yoFXK~9NZg8KOChCyZg9v8NFGs-kR0GlUsjoiVemokSI0ruEKXhQ89kx97etUi-YyFkXo~EXteK4jAEsnDfGGVBUFGCFR0evHhl8U~LCNriftTIFvwrhcEUwSasVBO92AgujLvFVHWWgnPlkJO3OC~N55Z6dzJSgjzC5KymN2kPZpbo4qzHTpPEY7zHp4Q0xHxXPhKuhkMMkYStiWkPO-k7WDkm7wDOQRNsFzsjOp5ypvF1Fie2~8D9DV4zEZz4SQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mark Souza and district staff briefed the Little Miami Local School District board on June 30 about administrative retirement \"pickup\" benefits and a recent survey of neighboring districts that examined who receives pickup and whether districts use \"pickup on the pickup.\"

At the meeting, staff explained the technical difference: regular pickup pays the retirement percentage on salary (for example, 10% for some non-teaching plans); pickup on the pickup adds the retirement contribution to salary and calculates the retirement percentage on the higher total, producing a higher effective rate. \"So that's pickup on the pickup,\" a district staff presenter said, explaining how a 10% pickup can effectively become about 11% under that method.

The presenter said Little Miami currently lists roughly 27 positions eligible for pickup and that, based on district payroll estimates, the pickup liability is \"a little over half a million dollars\" annually. The presentation included a regional survey showing variation: some districts offer pickup to a minority of eligible positions, others to most; a few districts reported pickup-on-pickup for many positions, which increases total cost.

Trustees and staff discussed ways to reduce cost, including reclassifying job codes so some positions are not eligible for pickup, lowering pickup percentages for new hires, and negotiating reductions over time rather than retroactively. Board member Diane Elmer said she supports moving funds into classrooms rather than supplementing administrative retirement pickup and said she would vote against personnel approvals that included pickup for rehires unless the board reexamined the policy.

Treasurer Terry (surname not stated) said the district's pickup line item is roughly $378,000 in a back-of-the-envelope estimate (using a $100k-per-position approximation for 27 positions at 14% STRS rates) and that an overall figure provided in discussion was \"a little over half a million\" when other pickup types were included. Staff recommended the board review pickup practices during contract renewals and when positions turn over, and to consider whether some jobs should remain coded as administrative for EMIS purposes.

Trustees agreed to schedule a follow-up session. \"If we could get something on the schedule, maybe in August or so,\" one trustee said; the board committed to a deeper review at a forthcoming work session.

No change to the pickup policy was adopted at the June 30 meeting; staff presented the survey and outlined options for the board to consider.","District staff presented a comparative survey of retirement pickup practices across local districts, described differences between \"pickup\" and \"pickup on the pickup,\" and recommended the board discuss options; trustees agreed to a follow-up work session to evaluate potential changes.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_46":117,"_48":118,"_50":119,"_52":120,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":121,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":122,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6180339,"Little Miami official explains why most incidents don’t meet legal bullying definition; board presses for clearer reporting",806,932000,1738000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5119668-28cc8c45aa582bf0de5cff1a5ea50dd6&start=932&end=1738","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5119668-28cc8c45aa582bf0de5cff1a5ea50dd6/thumbnail_932000.jpg","/articles/6180339/Ohio/Little-Miami-official-explains-why-most-incidents-dont-meet-legal-bullying-definition-board-presses-for-clearer-reporting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6180339-a0a766fa65cbb1e45f5da5d8361a6661/orig.mp4?Expires=1771132449&Signature=j2q7Q2UFLAuEdJNFjWiQaB0suDFMdfA~z7uZ9oJZa6Z7HANjAhf2SMc6ttzuoKlE9wz-Upiiz47ljG4OFBbgN~wP-6ao-F7wCfOxVCr4P7QPJGGHmjdN18R2kE3Q8gjdcvFIVkvJBR~3zsuk7S4BdcrlzEwn0K7l1yHbns-bMCsGj51NSVoMj3F~8TGDjoIGJ99InQcCILsq53czju0A2nQ93H7AZ8oqaRFYyHrRW2Dyp6oZcpqcijX3UEIYPLNlyZCWmbI7YOf7swpIoWCbxSjymWyFwDXCMi-~FU1XulY0Cv0bVCByMSaiO0s8mA6g6EB21na~qYfZclmDRWXsiw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jamie Miles, the district’s director of student services, told the Little Miami Local School District Board of Education on June 30 that the state’s legal definition of bullying is narrow and causes many reported incidents to be classified as code-of-conduct violations rather than \"bullying\" under law.

Miles said the district is “fully committed to curbing student bullying and school violence” and explained the three-part test school investigators use: aggression, dominance (an imbalance of power) and persistence. \"Just because it doesn't meet that legal definition does not mean that we aren't doing something about it,\" Miles said, adding that building administrators still respond with counseling, safety planning and discipline when appropriate.

The board pressed for more transparency after Miles walked the trustees through a February case study in which a sixth-grade student, identified in her presentation as Hazel, was blocked in a hallway by an eighth-grade student, Amanda. Miles described the principal’s investigation — review of camera footage, interviews, prior discipline records and parent notification — and said the principal concluded the incident did not meet the state definition because it consisted of a single episode rather than repeated conduct. Amanda received a one-day out-of-school suspension, restricted restroom access in certain areas and mandatory counseling; Hazel was offered weekly check-ins and relevant staff were notified.

Board members said the district’s published bullying counts (which Miles said are reported to the state twice a year) appear low compared with parents’ and trustees’ experiences. \"I find that hard to believe,\" Board member Bobby Wallace said of the low number of confirmed incidents. Several trustees asked how bus drivers and parents are trained to identify and report incidents; Miles said students receive lessons starting in early grades, staff are trained annually, and the district offers anonymous reporting through Public School Works and the Safer Ohio tip line.

Miles told the board that federal privacy law (FERPA) limits what disciplinary details principals can disclose to parents of other students and that principals provide redacted summaries when possible. In response to trustees' requests, Miles said she would work with district leadership to gather redacted incident summaries from building principals for board review.

Trustees asked staff to emphasize reporting at the start of next school year and to consider more parent outreach so bystanders report incidents sooner. Miles said the district will continue to use disciplinary and non-disciplinary supports even when an event does not meet the state’s statutory bullying standard.

Minutes show no formal policy change was adopted at the meeting; trustees requested additional information and a possible work session on reporting and training.

\"When it does meet that legal definition, we are still going to have interventions,\" Miles said. \"At the end of the day, we want to address it, we are going to address it, and we are going to make sure students are safe.\"","Director of student services told the Little Miami Local School District board that Ohio’s narrow legal definition of bullying means many reports are handled as code-of-conduct violations; board members asked for redacted incident files and more outreach to parents and bus drivers.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Bus driver raises Title IX concerns; board votes to enter executive session to consider staff complaints

Board approves year‑end appropriations and $195,000 transfer to cover athletic fund shortfall

Superintendent recommends removing '13 Reasons Why' from middle school library after curriculum review

Board hears review of retirement "pickup" benefits; staff estimate about $500,000 annual cost

Little Miami official explains why most incidents don’t meet legal bullying definition; board presses for clearer reporting