Parents press Sylvania Schools on communication, safety after dog attack near Whiteford Elementary
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Summary
Parents and community members criticized the district's delayed communication after a Dec. 8 dog attack near Whiteford Elementary, pressed for immediate safety measures and policy changes, and the superintendent acknowledged mistakes and said the owner agreed to relinquish the dog the next morning.
Whiteford-area parents demanded clearer safety procedures and more timely communication from Sylvania Schools after a dog attacked a parent near Whiteford Elementary on Dec. 8.
The episode and its aftermath dominated public comment at the Sylvania Board of Education's Dec. 15 meeting. Caroline Riley, a Whiteford parent who said she lives about a quarter-mile from the school, told the board: "Why didn't you tell us about the active ongoing threat at Whiteford Elementary School?" She recounted video she and others obtained showing a dog run toward and attack a parent and toddler outside the school entrance, and said parents shared the footage because they believed the district's initial notice understated the incident.
Parents at the meeting criticized the district's early messaging as vague and said officials initially labeled the event a "medical incident" rather than disclosing that a dog had attacked a parent and that Canine Control had reported the dog lacked rabies vaccination. "Our parents do not feel safe while that dog is in that home," said Doris Vincent, co-president of the Whiteford Parent Organization.
Superintendent Dr. Motley addressed the board and the public in her opening report, saying she accepted responsibility for communication lapses. She described meetings with the prosecutor's office and the dog warden and explained limits of animal-control law, noting that an animal in a private home generally cannot be seized without a warrant. "Voluntarily, relinquish their dog, tomorrow morning," she said when describing the owner's stated plan; she added she would confirm the action before lifting school security protocols.
Parents asked for concrete follow-up: verification that the correct animal was surrendered (the household has two dogs), confirmation the owner follows through, staff training on responding to animal attacks, and possible physical mitigations such as fencing adjacent to school property. Erin Marsh, who said she compiled and shared the video, said parents' social-media posts prompted further action and asked, "Why was this responsibility on us parents and not the district?"
Board members acknowledged errors. Miss Hoffman said the board received information later than ideal and apologized for the delay. Dr. Motley told attendees she will meet with parents at a January parent-organization meeting and with the district's safety and security team to develop explicit protocols for animal-related incidents and clarify steps for collecting and sharing video evidence with authorities.
The board did not take formal disciplinary action at the meeting; instead members emphasized their intent to revise protocols and communicate those changes to parents at the follow-up meeting. The most immediate operational change reported at the meeting was a temporary shift in drop-off/pickup procedures, added officer presence and indoor recess at Whiteford while the matter is handled.
What's next: the superintendent and board said they will report back at the parent meeting in January with more detail about procedural changes, steps the district will take to confirm the dog surrender, and any training or policy updates that result from the review.
