Rocky River superintendent expresses ‘disgust’ at video of teachers discussing

ROCKY RIVER, Ohio — The superintendent of Rocky River Schools says he is “disgusted” and “shocked,” citing a video that shows two male high school teachers discussing a female student.

“Regarding the video of our staff members’ discussion that is circulating in the community, I’m disgusted, I’m shocked, and as the father of a teenage daughter in this district, I’m angry,” Superintendent Michael Shoaf said in a statement released Thursday night. “What was stated by these staff members was not only inappropriate and unprofessional, it was offensive.”

Meanwhile, the Rocky River Police Department confirmed Thursday that it will not pursue criminal charges against six high school staff members who reportedly discussed a female student in an “inappropriate manner.” The teachers were place on administrative leave and the district says they will remain on leave until its investigation is completed.

Shoaf sent an email to school district parents Thursday night saying that police would be releasing the video of the two teachers discussing the student to the news media. However, a police dispatcher said Thursday night the video was not being released.

WJW Channel 8 did obtain the video, reporting that it was recorded from an online classroom. In the video, the two unidentified male teachers talk about a photograph taken of a female student by another male teacher who is not involved in the call. One says the third teacher tried to send him the photograph, but he says he never saw it and that it was not on his phone.

A teacher in the video says another male teacher had talked about the girl’s appearance, saying she was “smoking hot.” The two males in the video also reference the student’s appearance. They also express concern about whether they could be charged criminally.

Shoaf did not mention police declining to file charges in his statement Thursday night. He said the district would provide an update “when the matter is concluded.”

“We are committed to providing the highest quality of education for our students,” Assistant Superintendent Elizabeth Anderson said in Thursday’s statement. “As such, we hold our teachers and our staff accountable to maintain the highest standards of professionalism. We will act accordingly in this situation.”