Parent says coach nonrenewal was mishandled; board cites personnel policy KLD

Cara Zermley, who identified herself with an address to the board, used the public‑comment period to challenge the district’s nonrenewal of Milford baseball coach Asif Shaw. Zermley said she and other families were disappointed and alleged the board relied on complaints from a single family, that players and parents were not interviewed and that anonymous allegations surfaced that the coach misused booster resources and accepted improper benefits. She asked the board to change its investigatory process for athletic complaints and to create a separate athletic review board so coaches have clearer protections.

Zermley named individuals she said were involved in the matter — athletic director Aaron Zepka, Milford Athletic Booster president Chris Ham and family members associated with a player, Avery Faulkner — and said an investigation by the boosters cleared Shaw of improper use of boosters' funds. She urged the board to show improved complaint procedures before the upcoming election.

A board member clarified that there was no board vote on the coach’s contract renewal; the president said the issue came to the board under Policy KLD (public complaints about district personnel) after it was submitted to the superintendent and elevated as required under Ohio law. The president said personnel details cannot be disclosed in public session but that the board's decision was informed by student‑safety and policy alignment concerns. The board said it will work with the human resources director and athletic director to strengthen complaint handling so concerns are addressed at the right level.

The board did not provide further personnel details during the public session and did not reverse the nonrenewal during the meeting.