Following the Athens City School board's suspension of the district superintendent, Keller Blackburn says he sent a 'list' of any past or present district employees who did not report Isaac Thomas relationship with his students to the Ohio Department of Education.
Athens County Prosecutor Keller Blackburn is submitting names to the Ohio Department of Education that he believes failed to report sexual relationships between Isaac Thomas, a former Athens High School teacher, and his students.
Blackburn said his "list" was submitted during the day Thursday, before the Athens School Board placed Carl Martin, the district superintendent, on paid administrative leave after Blackburn accused him of not reporting Thomas' relationship.
The prosecutor would not say who was reported to the state or how many people were reported. The list is not a public document, Blackburn said.
The prosecutor would not say who was reported to the state or how many people were reported. The list is not a public document, Blackburn said.
The report widens the scope of the scandal at Athens High School from potentially affecting just the superintendent to many educators who might have known about Thomas' relationships with his students, but said nothing.
In Ohio, teachers, administrators and others are mandated to report allegations of sexual abuse.
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John Charlton, spokesman for the state's Department of Education, said he couldn't comment on whether any educators had been referred to the state for disciplinary action. He also could not confirm or deny if any state investigation is underway.
If the state finds Athens district educators or administrators failed to report Thomas' actions, their teaching licenses could be revoked, among other sanctions.
"The reason I made the initial decision not to charge was because to charge those who were responsible, I would have to out two sexual assault victims who did not want to be outed," said Blackburn, referring to two other former students who the prosecutor found were victims of sexual abuse by Thomas' while they attended the high school.
The school board — which announced a "top-down review" of the district at its meeting Thursday night — and the state will have to finish its investigations before Blackburn will take more action, the prosecutor said.
"When (the Ohio Department of Education) is done and (Athens City Schools) is done, I will make a decision on whether I need to do more," he said.
The statute of limitations on failing to report sexual abuse — a misdemeanor in Ohio — is one year, giving Blackburn a short window to press charges. To his knowledge, the clock started ticking on Feb. 3, the first time he heard about possible failure to report.
Blackburn's move comes after two weeks of turmoil for the Athens school district.
On January 27, Thomas was arrested and charged with four counts of sexual battery for engaging in a sexual relationship with a student since December 2013. The charge said the victim, who is now 18, was 17 when the relationship began.
A week ago, Thomas pled guilty to one count of sexual battery and was sentenced to five years in state prison.
On Thursday night, Chris Gerig, an Athens school board member, said the district is committed to getting to the bottom of what happened. The board hired Columbus-based Bricker and Eckler to investigate. And while Martin is the only one who has received any disciplinary action so far, that does not mean he will be the last, Gerig said.
The statute of limitations on failing to report sexual abuse — a misdemeanor in Ohio — is one year, giving Blackburn a short window to press charges. To his knowledge, the clock started ticking on Feb. 3, the first time he heard about possible failure to report.
Blackburn's move comes after two weeks of turmoil for the Athens school district.
On January 27, Thomas was arrested and charged with four counts of sexual battery for engaging in a sexual relationship with a student since December 2013. The charge said the victim, who is now 18, was 17 when the relationship began.
A week ago, Thomas pled guilty to one count of sexual battery and was sentenced to five years in state prison.
On Thursday night, Chris Gerig, an Athens school board member, said the district is committed to getting to the bottom of what happened. The board hired Columbus-based Bricker and Eckler to investigate. And while Martin is the only one who has received any disciplinary action so far, that does not mean he will be the last, Gerig said.
"Prosecutor Blackburn has made allegations against other employees," Gerig said. "Those will be investigated from our internal review."
Thomas, whose district evaluations showed him to be a trusted and valued member of the Athens High School community, was head of the social studies department and the men’s soccer coach. His resignation from the school district was formally accepted on Thursday. Thomas worked as a teacher at the district since 2001 and as a coach since 1998.
dd195710@ohio.edu
@WillDrabold
Thomas, whose district evaluations showed him to be a trusted and valued member of the Athens High School community, was head of the social studies department and the men’s soccer coach. His resignation from the school district was formally accepted on Thursday. Thomas worked as a teacher at the district since 2001 and as a coach since 1998.
dd195710@ohio.edu
@WillDrabold
