Manor board upholds student expulsion after review of restroom-vandalism videos

The Manor Board of Education voted 5-0 on May 5 to uphold the superintendent's expulsion of a high-school student after reviewing testimony, documents and other evidence, the board said at a special meeting.

The board met in executive session under Ohio Revised Code section 3313.66 to consider the discipline and investigation of charges against a public-school student. Board members said evidence presented at the hearing showed the student posted videos on TikTok of throwing chocolate milk on the ceiling of the high school restrooms a minimum of eight times over about a month, causing damage to school property in violation of Board of Education policy 5500, Part B.

Board members told the board that the student admitted engaging in the misconduct and that statements from other students and documents presented by the family and administration were considered. The board found the family's evidence “not sufficiently compelling” to outweigh the totality of evidence presented and concluded the disciplinary outcome was appropriate, the meeting record shows.

A motion to uphold the expulsion passed by a 5-0 roll-call vote. The board convened in executive session at 6:13 p.m. and the meeting concluded at 7:23 p.m., according to the meeting record. The transcript records the votes as affirmative by five board members; the motion tally was reported as 5-0.

The board noted the family has the right to appeal the decision to the Court of Common Pleas for Lake County. If the family files an appeal, notice must be filed with the board and the court within 30 days in accordance with Ohio Revised Code section 3313.66(e), the board said.

The transcript and meeting record provided the account of the hearing, the board's reasons for upholding the expulsion, and the statutory appeal process. The transcript does not identify the student by name.