Parma City School board hears emotional public comments on Valley Forge shooting, outlines safety task force after levy defeat

The Parma City School District board heard sustained, emotional public testimony on May 7 about the April 20 incident at Valley Forge High School, with students, teachers and parents demanding clearer communication and stronger security measures while the district also confronts a failed levy.

Several speakers described fear and confusion during the incident and urged immediate steps to restore safety and trust. "It was scary and confusing," said Lila Busch, a freshman at Valley Forge, reading a submitted statement. "Metal detectors won't solve every problem, but they can help keep weapons from coming inside the schools. Right now I don't feel secure coming back without it." The board read Busch's written public comment into the record because she could not attend in person.

Teachers and staff urged the board to protect employees from what several called a wave of misinformation and public accusations on social media. "When this behavior goes unaddressed, it risks normalizing disrespect, misinformation, and harm," said Ryan Osovsky, a Greenbrier Middle School teacher. Multiple staff members—among them Amy Fink and Kim Porco—described professional harm from unverified online accusations and urged the district to confront false claims and support staff.

Superintendent Doctor Hunt told the board he understood community concern and that law enforcement led the criminal investigation into the April 20 incident. "That's law enforcement doing the investigation," he said when asked for a timeline, and added administrators were organizing a safety task force that he hoped to convene before the end of the month. Hunt also described the district's recent public messaging and said the district had shared data about the levy and would continue to do so: "Our community deserves honest, accurate information."

Parents and community leaders pressed for more timely, direct emergency communications. "I heard about what was happening from my son before I heard anything from the school," said Nick Bodwin, who said his son has severe anxiety and was briefly left without clear supervision after being evacuated. Councilman Kevin Kuzmall offered city support and said the Parma City Council would be willing to serve on the proposed task force.

Speakers also raised broader concerns about trust and district priorities. Some questioned past decisions, funding choices and transparency around school safety programs. "The lack of transparency raises serious concerns about priorities and accountability," one parent said, citing past board actions and funding choices.

Doctor Hunt said the district would pull together a safety and security team, and that administrators and principals had worked with the state to adjust testing and schedules as needed in the immediate aftermath. He also announced schedule adjustments to make up missed instructional time at Valley Forge and Normandy High School, noting specific additional hours required for different grades.

The meeting produced no immediate vote on new security systems; instead board members and district leaders agreed to pursue the task force, gather additional information and return to the public with recommendations. Several speakers offered to help—students proposing fundraising and volunteering; staff offering internal support; and a council member offering municipal assistance.

The board moved on to routine agenda items after the public-comment period and later recessed into executive session for personnel matters. The safety task force and follow-up timeline were left as the next public steps the district said it would report to the board and community.