Board votes to hire independent investigator after members raise concerns about earlier inquiry into student harassment allegation

Groveport — On March 11 the Groveport Madison Board of Education voted to engage an outside investigator to review a previously handled student harassment/retaliation matter the board identified during recent meetings.

Mister Kirschner moved that the board employ an outside investigator to review the matter involving a student described in the meeting as “student H,” saying the board’s policy reserves the board the right to pursue an external investigation regardless of whether a complainant pursues the matter. Board member Mrs. Walsh seconded the motion and said the board had received conflicting information and wanted an independent review.

Board discussion included differences in accounts and what information could or could not be shared publicly under state education privacy rules. At least one board member said public statements alleging gang-related conduct were inaccurate; another board member said the affected student believed she had been threatened. The board limited public discussion and proceeded to a roll-call vote.

Vote: The motion to retain an outside investigator carried on a unanimous roll call. No vendor or investigative firm was named at the meeting; the board directed staff to arrange engagement of an external investigator and to return with a proposed scope and cost.

Next steps: The board expects district staff to present options for an independent investigator and a scope of work; the board did not set a vendor, price, or timeline at the March 11 session. The motion does not itself assign discipline or reverse past steps; it directs a new review of the reported handling of the incident.