GROVE CITY, Ohio (WCMH) — A principal in the South-Western City School District will return to her job after being placed on leave for allegedly conducting an “improper medical examination” of a student.
In an agreement reached with the district’s school board Monday, Buckeye Woods Elementary School principal Jenniffer Kauffeld can return to work immediately but will have her salary reduced by $5,000 for the 2023-24 school year. The board approved the settlement 5-0.
A statement released Monday and attributed to board president Chris Boso reads:
“Over the course of the past few months, the district administration and two different boards of education have spent significant time engaged in this personnel matter. While the road leading up to tonight’s decision to reinstate the principal has been lengthy and emotional for all parties, as a board, we wanted to leave no stone unturned in terms of a timeline when it comes to matters impacting both employees and student supervision and welfare. Moving forward we intend to further define and clarify expectations for employees as we support student and family partnerships. We welcome back Mrs. Kauffeld to Buckeye Woods Elementary School starting tomorrow.”
South-Western City School Board statement
Parents and community members at Monday’s meeting were overwhelmingly in support of Kauffeld, who received a standing ovation when she entered the meeting room.
Also at Monday’s meeting, the board reviewed the district’s student abuse and neglect and suspected child abuse reporting policies. There is no word on if or how the policies are connected to the Kauffeld situation.
“I would very much like to revisit our policy to make them more clear and concise,” board member Kelli Martindale said.
The board voted on Jan. 8 of this year to consider Kauffeld’s termination for her role in an alleged improper medical examination of a 5-year-old student late last year, in violation of the district’s code of conduct. With Monday’s vote, that vote for termination is rescinded.
A school nurse who was also involved in the alleged medical examination resigned on Dec. 29, 2023.
Kauffeld and the nurse were initially placed on administrative leave on Nov. 14, 2023.