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Tollgate Elementary staff describe trauma, criticize district handling of voyeurism case at Pickerington board meeting
Summary
Multiple Tollgate Elementary staff and the PEA president told the Pickerington Local board on Jan. 27 that a custodial employee allegedly recorded staff in restrooms. Commenters said district leave and communication were inconsistent and retraumatizing; staff asked for clearer paid-leave, counseling and a dedicated liaison.
At the Pickerington Local School District board meeting on Jan. 27, teachers and union leaders publicly described ongoing trauma after an alleged voyeurism incident at Tollgate Elementary and criticized the district's handling of leave and support for affected staff.
Brad Harris, president of the Pickerington Education Association and a community member, said, "One third of the staff at Tollgate elementary were allegedly spied upon and recorded by another employee while they were using the restroom on school grounds." Harris said staff surveys over the past three years have shown educators feeling unsupported by district leadership.
Multiple Tollgate employees described emotional distress and inconsistent district communications about leave. Teacher Anne Starkey said she was shown a photograph during the criminal investigation and described the lasting impact: "I see the photograph that the detective put in front of my face that I had to look at. My own face, my own body sitting in that same position." Sarah Miller, a teacher at Tollgate who identified herself as a victim, said the district reversed its earlier leave decision and told affected staff they would have to use personal time; after union intervention and an MOU she was granted professional leave, then told hours before court it would be a half day.
Other staff recounted being pulled from classrooms for interviews and then asked to return to teach the same day, and said they received limited counseling. Kimberly Brown said that, "within a week, 11 others had been identified," and that staff had not received consistent direct communication or a district liaison. Several speakers asked the board to create a clear crisis plan that includes paid leave to attend legal proceedings, counseling, and consistent communication with victims.
Speakers said the district's practice changed after the pretrial: staff reported that the district now requires a court-issued subpoena to receive paid leave to attend trial for crimes committed on district property. Brianna Hobbs and others said that late notice and changing instructions exacerbated trauma. One teacher urged the board to allow buildings to close the day victims attend sentencing; Kimberly Brown said the sentencing date has been set for March 13.
The public-comment period concluded after a broad set of personal accounts and requests for policy changes. Board members did not announce a formal decision during the public-comment section; the meeting continued to scheduled business items.
