PIKETON, Ohio — The Scioto Valley Local Board of Education is scheduled to hold a special meeting Wednesday evening to consider the appointment of a new board member, amid ongoing tensions between parents and district leadership over student safety and transparency.
The meeting, set for 5 p.m. in the Piketon High School auditorium, will include roll call, the adoption of the agenda, and an executive session “to consider the appointment of a public official,” according to the official agenda.
The appointment comes after several contentious board meetings in recent months, where parents have expressed frustration over what they describe as repeated security lapses and a lack of communication from district officials. Concerns intensified following an August incident in which a loaded handgun was reportedly brought onto a school bus, and a December case in which a non-student gained temporary access to both a school bus and the high school building.
Parents have publicly criticized Superintendent Wes Hairston and board member Jeff Cutler, calling for resignations and demanding greater accountability.
The new board member, whose appointment will be discussed in the executive session, is expected to fill a current vacancy, although the district has not released further details ahead of the vote.
Tensions remain high in Piketon as parents continue to press for clearer safety protocols and increased transparency from school officials, citing past incidents they say were minimized or inadequately addressed.