OXFORD, Ohio — A teacher at Talawanda High School is on paid administrative leave after the district received "reports and concerns" about social media videos/posts allegedly made by the teacher in question.
The district said in a Friday morning press release that it was investigating whether the videos were shot on school property with district-owned devices. The district did not name the teacher.
"The Superintendent’s office, Human Resources, and the THS Administration are taking parent and community concerns very seriously in regard to this matter," the district said in a release.
While the district did not elaborate on the contents of the video, WCPO 9 has received several news tips about political posts made by a teacher at Talawanda High School following this week's presidential election.
The district said it would not be providing any more information while it investigates.
Our media partners at the Journal-News report that according to the Talawanda School District’s policy manual, teachers “may not campaign on school property during work hours on behalf of any political candidate for local, state or national office.” However, the policy goes on to state that “The constitutional right to express political and other opinions as citizens is reserved to all employees.”
The district also has an official freedom of speech in non-instructional settings policy for professional staff. According to that policy, professional staff members should avoid expressions that create conflict with the district’s interest. To meet that standard, the policy outlines four guidelines. Staff should “state clearly that his/her expression represents personal views and not necessarily those of the School District,” “refrain from expressions that would disrupt harmony among co-workers or interfere with the maintenance of discipline by school officials,” “not make threats or abusive or personally defamatory comments about co-workers, administrators, or officials of the District,” and “refrain from making public expressions which s/he knows to be false or are made without regard for truth or accuracy.”
Some reporting in this story came from our media partners at The Journal-News.
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