In justifying the decision, school board President Esther Larson referred to investigations by district officials and the district’s attorney that concluded there was no merit to the accusations. Larson said the board had to make decisions on personnel now and could not wait for the outcome of the restraining order request.
Before the vote, three parents and four players asked the school board to not renew Mersch’s supplemental contract, or at least delay the decision. Some players said they will not play next year under the same coaching staff.
Parent Rick McPherson criticized district officials for hiring an attorney to investigate the claims of abuse instead of hiring a psychologist.
“This is not a popularity contest. This is not about wins and losses. This is about the future of these children,” he said.
A Warren County magistrate initially denied a restraining order against the coach; a hearing on the matter was delayed until April 1, according to court records. A second restraining order request, filed by a parent who supports the coach against the parent who is seeking the order against Mersch, was temporarily granted until May; a hearing has not been scheduled to determine if that order will be made permanent, according to court records.
The Lebanon girls volleyball team won its fourth consecutive league championship this past season, with a record of 20 wins, five losses.
Contact this reporter at (513) 696-4542 or rwilson@coxohio.com.
About the Author