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Parents urge New Albany-Plain Local board to address sudden resignation of middle school theater director
Summary
Parents at the May 11 New Albany-Plain Local Board of Education meeting urged the board to support and, if possible, restore middle school theater director Melissa Gold after a sudden resignation email; parents said Gold built a program serving dozens of students, including many who are neurodivergent.
At the May 11 New Albany-Plain Local Board of Education meeting, parents and volunteers pressed the board to address the sudden resignation of New Albany Middle School theater director Melissa Gold and to protect the program she built for nearly a decade.
Rachel Levitt, a parent of five, said parents were "shocked to receive an email from the school district stating the resignation of Melissa Gold," and asked the board to "use those concerns to strengthen a program and not destroy it." Levitt said many parents want the theater program to continue under Gold's direction.
Joe Proudfoot, who said he has two daughters who participated in the program, told the board the change "came down very suddenly" and that parents were told the resignation was Gold's decision though "many of us had back and spoke to her to know that it was not her decision at all to resign." Proudfoot said Gold had led the program for nine years and that more than 80 students take part in productions.
Parent and volunteer Lauren Petruzzo described Gold's classroom as "a sanctuary where these students thrive," emphasizing Gold's support for neurodivergent students and saying that outside contractors like Gold often manage large casts "without the daily administrative presence" and needed more district support. Petruzzo read from a student's letter praising Gold's role in that student's growth.
Speakers repeatedly urged transparency from the district and more communication with families about the decision. Multiple commenters said they had not been informed by the board or district prior to the announcement and asked that the board ensure due diligence before removing long-serving community instructors.
The board did not take further public action on the personnel matter that evening and moved into an executive session citing Ohio Revised Code Section 121.22(g)(1). No board response to the parents' requests was recorded in the public minutes before the executive session.
Next steps: The board adjourned to executive session for personnel discussion; the public record does not show a follow-up vote or resolution on Gold's status at the May 11 meeting.
