And other, unrelated events, have also impacted the 10,000-student school system, which is one of the largest in Southwest Ohio.
Here are 5 major recent events that have impacted Hamilton Schools:
1. Superintendent resigns
Superintendent Orr was ordered by the school board on paid leave on Feb. 5 as the board cited a just-launched investigation into allegations Orr had violated school board policies.
Orr would eventually resign on April 12 as part of a separation agreement — unanimously approved by the five-member board — that pays him through July and then a $130,000 lump sum payment.
The total costs of Orr’s departure to date is $231,000 to taxpayers.
2. Allegations made against superintendent
Last month — prior to Orr’s resignation — allegations from two female Hamilton Schools employees, first reported by the Journal-News, listed a range of accusations at Orr, including sexual harassment, ordered deletion of district emails and attempts to tamper with the previous year’s board elections.
MORE: Allegations against Hamilton school leader include sexual harassment
3. New superintendent named
Also last month Hamilton got a new superintendent but he is not a new face. District business director Larry Knapp was appointed by the school board to replace Orr. Knapp is contracted through the 2018-2019 school year to lead the city schools but then Associate Superintendent Mike Holbrook will take over in 2019-2020 as superintendent.
4. Career tech program leaving high school
Since the 1950s, career learning has been offered in various forms in Hamilton Schools, but the school board recently voted to take the first step in closing down the Hamilton High School’s Career Tech Education program and merging with Butler Tech’s career schools used by all other districts in Butler County.
The historic move ends Hamilton’s independent career training program after next school year for 500 juniors and seniors.
5. Elementary assistant principal arrested on drug charges
A Hamilton Schools’ elementary assistant principal — and former Lakota West High School boys junior varsity basketball coach — was arrested last week and charged with possessing methamphetamines in his office at Brookwood Elementary.
Kevin Kernohan, who was also a former assistant principal at Ridgeway Elementary, was also previously appointed to be the summer school principal at Highland Elementary. But last week the school board rescinded that job offer by unanimous vote.
Kernohan resigned from his job on Thursday and turned himself in to Hamilton Police on Friday. He will appear in court Wednesday to face charges of committing a fifth-degree felony.
About the Author