After Chardon Schools Board of Education member Todd Albright’s recent actions raised ire and fueled a student-led protest outside his home, his fellow colleagues voted to censure him Sept. 19.
After Chardon Schools Board of Education member Todd Albright’s recent actions raised ire and fueled a student-led protest outside his home, his fellow colleagues voted to censure him Sept. 19.
A resolution — read by board President Karen Blankenship after a roughly 45-minute executive session — summarized Albright’s recent behavior, including an Aug. 31 incident in which he asked administrators to join him at the corner of Allynd Drive and North Street in Chardon to address concerns he had related to the district’s dress code.
RELATED: Chardon Students to Protest Albright’s Dress Code Concerns
That meeting spurred heated online debate and a Sept. 19 student protest in front of Albright’s home on North Street.
“The board hereby formally disavows and expresses that it in no way condones Mr. Albright’s behavior and actions with regard to the aforementioned matters, as such behavior … (is) indicative of Mr. Albright’s failure to meet his obligations as a member of this board,” the resolution said. “The board hereby formally censures Mr. Albright for having engaged in the above-described conduct in violation of board bylaw, policy and procedure, and in violation of Mr. Albright’s obligations as a member of this board, and respectfully requests that Mr. Albright cease and desist from any further conduct of a similar nature so that board members, administrators and staff may continue to work together in an environment of mutual respect and trust for the betterment of our schools and our community.”
In the resolution, the board also strongly recommended Albright attend and participate in training through the Ohio School Boards Association on the role, powers, ethics and responsibilities of a school board member.
Blankenship and board members Guy Wilson and Keith Brewster voted in favor of the resolution. Albright voted no. Board member CJ Paterniti was not present for the meeting.
When contacted for a response, Albright opted not to comment.
Blankenship Takes the Spotlight
Before several community residents spoke, Blankenship gave a 25-minute statement to the packed room, citing specific board policies Albright allegedly violated, above and beyond the Aug. 31 street corner meeting.
The most damning included an allegation that Albright may have violated state law regarding the reporting of sexual abuse of a minor. In a video posted to YouTube Aug. 31, Albright made several claims, including one which alleged possible criminal activity by a teacher at Chardon Middle School.
“The most disturbing claim on Mr. Albright’s video, and referenced again in a Facebook comment, refers to a student coming to him about a seventh-grade teacher at 8:29 a.m. promoting pornographic and obscene materials. After hearing this, I immediately contacted (Superintendent Michael Hanlon) and found out that an investigation had been started into these previously unreported allegations made by Mr. Albright after his video was reviewed,” Blankenship said.
Related: VIEWPOINT / Community Letter: CHARDON SCHOOLS BOARD MEMBER STATEMENTS ARE DIVISIVE, SEND MIXED MESSAGE
In addition to triggering an internal investigation, Albright’s statement on Facebook alleging a teacher recommended what he characterized as pornographic, obscene material to 12- and 13-year-olds was reported to the Geauga County Department of Job and Family Services for their investigation, since exposure of children to pornographic or obscene material could carry misdemeanor or even felony charges.
“The district takes these accusations seriously,” Blankenship said. “The fact that Mr. Albright had this information and never reported it to JFS, or to the superintendent, may constitute a violation of (Ohio Revised Code) 2151.421: Reporting child abuse or neglect.”
The law establishes mandated reporters — which include members of boards of education — must report abuse or suspected abuse to their local public children services agency or law enforcement. According to the Ohio Department of Education, the penalty for non-compliance with the mandated reporting law is criminal prosecution.
Although GCJFS was provided with Albright’s contact information for subsequent questions, they have not been able to investigate because there has not been an identified alleged perpetrator or alleged child victim, Blankenship said.
Blankenship outlined Albright’s other violations of board policies, including comments he made at the Sept. 8 Chardon City Council meeting, during which he spoke publicly about board business and said his understanding was the relationship between the district and the city is “not really congenial.”
“I would like to apologize and set the record straight. At no time have I ever heard anyone in the district say we had a bad working relationship with the city. The city officials have always been supportive of the schools, staff and students,” Blankenship said, adding she learned from viewing the video of the city council meeting that according to Albright, the district was possibly interested in relocating the existing crosswalk that is in front of the student parking lot and crosses to the high school.
“That was news to me,” she said.
In fact, Hanlon and Chardon City Manager Randy Sharpe were in the process of discussing possible next steps toward making the crosswalk safer, she said.
Albright’s discussion of the topic violated board policy stating members will delegate authority for the administration of the schools to the superintendent and staff, Blankenship said.
At the conclusion of her statement, a large portion of the audience rose in a standing ovation.
A Significant Distraction
As the vote on the resolution of censure loomed, Brewster took the opportunity to provide his own statement.
“Mr. Albright’s public activities over the course of the last few weeks have been a source of great distraction for this board, our district and the community,” Brewster said. “They have been a significant distraction from our board and administration’s primary and essential work of educating our students. They have also consumed a great deal of time and energy that could have been spent focused on other essential tasks. As such, they have additionally caused a waste of taxpayer dollars.”
Brewster also referenced remarks Albright made on social media, including in the comments section of his video after sharing it to Facebook.
“The other thing to consider is that children can be indoctrinated and are being indoctrinated,” Albright said in one comment. “Hitler didn’t say for no reason ‘he who owns the children, owns the future.’ And he acted on it with the very effective programming of the Hitler Youth.”
The comment included an image of Adolph Hitler posing with a child involved in the Hitler Youth, Brewster said.
“For Mr. Albright to draw a comparison between our schools and the actions of this despicable monster, and to further state that we are indoctrinating children in a similar manner, is disgusting and abhorrent. I don’t know of any other way to state it,” Brewster said. “Needless to say, comments such as these should never be made by a school board member. The very fact that a board member would even entertain these thoughts puts into question their capacity to serve.”
Brewster reminded Albright his public statements must always be considered as representing the board and also strongly encouraged Albright to research and attend training on his role.
When he was first sworn in, Brewster said Blankenship gave him a copy of the book, “Becoming a Better Board Member,” because she understood the great challenge and responsibility of being a school board member.
“So tonight, Mr. Albright, I offer you this very book with the sincere hope that you will use it, take these comments to heart, begin working in earnest to stop your disruptive and unproductive behavior, and try to become a decent and respectful member of this board,” he said. “Tonight, I say to you that it is time for you to put the culture-war playbook on the shelf, or even better, to throw it in the trash, and instead pick up this book, read it and follow its guidance.”
Emotional Comments
As she stood at the podium, Chardon High School parent Laurie Kogovsek broke down in tears describing her daughter’s reaction to a quote Albright made in local news media, including one in which he said students “walk around with bustiers, crop tops and white shirts with no bra that allow their areolas to be seen.”
“When I asked my daughter if this was true, she said, ‘wait, what?’” Kogovsek said. “I repeated the statement. She said ‘Oh no, that’s crazy. That does not happen.’”
Ben Park, a district resident whose children do not attend public schools, said he has known Albright for a long time and he serves the community in a lot of different ways.
“I think we need to take a look at ourselves a little bit. I don’t know if it would be really obvious to people who are part of a mob that they’re part of a mob,” Park said. “There’s a lot of implications going around … like he’s, I don’t know if anybody’s used the word pervert, but look, that’s what we’re saying, right?”
Park added Albright left his phone number in his aforementioned YouTube video and encouraged the public to reach out to him.
“I hope those of you who wrote these long things — and clearly board members that prepared to read some statements with issues that they have with him — I hope that you called him and I hope there was a lot of dialogue,” he said. “And I say the same thing to the community. If you have issues, he’s a problem solver. That should be pretty clear about what we’re all angry with.”
Referencing the subject of dress code in the schools, Gina Payne, another CHS parent, said problems with the dress code are visible to “everybody” in the school.
“Todd’s efforts to bring dignity to the way the students dress should be appreciated, not attacked,” Payne said. “As the parent of a Chardon High School student, I count on the school and the board to ensure our kids dignity, as well as their safety. There have been a lot of negative comments about this guy, but the negative attention that some of our girls are creating through their dress choices should be the focus.”
Matt Wasylyk, a parent of three Chardon students, opened by commending students for their bravery in organizing their response to Albright’s comments, as well as the students who stood by those who participated in the protest. He added while it’s a hard thing to say, adults should learn from the students.
Wasylyk directly addressed Albright’s actions on Aug. 31 and before. Referencing Albright’s newspaper comments regarding students wearing shirts without a bra underneath, Wasylyk said he was horrified to learn those were the body parts Albright was “staring at.”
“To have chosen a place outside of the supervision of the schools and away from the view of parents of these children was a deliberate choice and I have a serious problem with that,” Wasylyk said. ”Let’s talk about the times before that, when this person was alone, (with) these children as they were going by. That location was chosen specifically. And it could have been right over by your house, but you chose to do this where you would be alone, away from the supervision of the school and the parents of these children.”
