Perrysburg Schools

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Perrysburg Schools News Article

PHS Teacher Resignation Statement

01/16/25

We understand that questions have arisen following the recent resignation of a longtime staff member after allegations were made concerning his conduct more than two decades ago. We recognize the importance of transparency and we will continue to share details of the school district’s investigation and findings with our school community while also balancing the legal and privacy rights that limit the details we may share regarding matters that involve students, including those involving former students from decades ago.
 
Summary of Allegations
 
During the last week of school in May 2024, a former student made an allegation that a teacher had engaged in inappropriate behavior during his instruction in a physical education class during the early 2000s. At the same time, a second former student also made a complaint about the teacher’s handling of a dance team injury while he was working as an Assistant Athletic Trainer and assisting that student along with her coach in the early 2010s. The school district immediately opened an investigation.
 
The former student with a complaint from the early 2000s told us that in 2022 she had filed a report with the police regarding the alleged incident. The school district was never made aware of the report and no charges were filed by the police. 
 
We encouraged the former student with a complaint from the early 2010s to file a report with the police, and she did in July 2024. However, no charges were pursued by law enforcement.
 
Also during the summer of 2024, the original complainant shared a rumor that the teacher may have had an inappropriate relationship with a student in the late 1990s. So far as the school district can determine, Perrysburg Schools had never previously been made aware of this allegation. Several attempts to speak to the alleged 1990s victim were unsuccessful. Similarly, several attempts to speak with a possible witness regarding that alleged incident were also unsuccessful. Attempts to identify and locate a witness with direct knowledge were unavailing despite the investigator’s efforts to contact former staff and students.
 
Perrysburg Schools consulted with Wood County Child Protective Services (CPS) and the Wood County Prosecutor’s office in June 2024 regarding the allegations. 
 
Investigation and Resignation

In addition to consultations with the Wood County Prosecutor and Child Protective Services, Perrysburg Schools initiated its own investigation using a third-party attorney. Some of those efforts were described above.
 
The accused teacher, John Henline, was interviewed by the investigating attorney. He admitted that he had one physical encounter with the student at his residence, either immediately prior to the end of the school year or days after in the summer in the late 1990’s. He denied that any inappropriate conduct with the student had occurred prior to that evening and claimed that this inappropriate conduct did not happen again.
 
Mr. Henline was placed on administrative leave the day he was interviewed to remove him from contact with our students. Administration met with him the following week and asked for his resignation, explaining that if he did not resign, the Perrysburg Board of Education would take steps to initiate his termination. Mr. Henline chose to resign, effective February 13, 2025. He will remain out of school using leave available to him under his contract until his resignation date. We accepted his resignation rather than re-victimize any student or former student who might have been required to testify during a termination proceeding.

Investigation Report

We are aware of the findings detailed in the investigation report concerning allegations against the former staff member. We are grateful for the efforts of the investigator and the staff members who worked to ensure this report was thorough and comprehensive. We take these findings seriously, including the concerns raised about the actions of certain staff members during the investigation process. We are committed to addressing these issues transparently and ensuring that our school district’s policies and procedures prioritize the safety and well-being of all students and staff members.

Specific to Principal Aaron Cookson, we acknowledge the report’s findings that his actions fell short of the expectations for handling sensitive allegations appropriately. As a result, we will be working to implement necessary corrective actions to ensure the integrity of future investigations.

We have begun the process of evaluating this information as it pertains to Mr. Cookson’s role. We will follow the school district’s established policies and guidelines to address any performance issues in a manner that respects due process and ensures accountability.

We remain steadfast in our commitment to fostering a safe, supportive, and accountable school environment for all. This includes holding all staff members to the highest standards of professionalism and ensuring that our policies and practices reflect our unwavering dedication to student and staff member safety.
 
Perrysburg Schools’ Commitment to Safety

Perrysburg Schools also reported Mr. Henline’s resignation during the course of the school district’s investigation to Ohio’s State Board of Education’s Office of Professional Conduct, which is authorized to conduct its own investigation and determine whether to take action to suspend or revoke Mr. Henline’s educator license.

The safety and well-being of our students and staff members remains our highest priority. We have put in place several ways for students, staff members, and the school community to bring concerns to our attention. The Safer Ohio School Tip Line may be accessed at (844) 723-3764 and accepts calls and texts twenty-four hours a day, including allowing anonymous reports. We also have a crisis text line where anyone can submit reports to the number 741-741 and texting “4hope.” 
 
If anyone has additional information or needs to report a concern, please use the reporting services identified above, or feel free to contact Don Christie, Perrysburg Schools Executive Director of Human Resources, at (419) 874-9131, ext. 2131 or by email at [email protected].

We recognize the community’s desire for transparency and will continue to provide transparency to the extent we are permitted under the law.

12/24/24

Perrysburg High School teacher John Henline submitted his resignation on Monday, December 16, 2024. He is on leave through mid-February, and has indicated he intends to retire at that time. At the time of his resignation, the District was investigating a complaint against Mr. Henline. To ensure a thorough and impartial review of the allegations, the school district retained legal counsel to assist with the investigation.

The school district filed the following in a report to the Office of Professional Conduct: “John Henline, a teaching employee with Perrysburg Schools, submitted his resignation during the course of an investigation into alleged conduct unbecoming. More specifically, the District received a report that Mr. Henline may have had an inappropriate relationship with a female student in the late 1990s, during his first years of employment with the District. It was during the course of the District’s investigation into this report that Mr. Henline resigned.”

Perrysburg Schools’ priority remains ensuring a smooth transition for students, and we are committed to identifying an outstanding candidate to fill this role for the remainder of the year. The position has been posted, and our goal is to have a permanent long-term substitute teacher in place as early as possible in the second semester. In the interim, classes will continue to be covered by a qualified substitute teacher.

Mr. Henline’s athletic responsibilities have been reassigned within the athletic department. Once the details of this plan are finalized, they will be communicated to the athletic staff and relevant high school personnel. Until that time the athletic director and administrators will be covering these duties.
Posted Tuesday, December 24, 2024
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