Olentangy School Board Addresses Orange High Soccer Hazing as Parents Demand Accountability
District leaders confirmed soccer coaches are on leave and seniors were removed from the team as officials prepare anti-hazing reforms for Oct. 22.
LEWIS CENTER, Ohio — Olentangy Local School District officials addressed parent anger and outlined planned safety reviews during a school board meeting Thursday, Oct. 8, confronting hazing allegations involving the Olentangy Orange High School girls soccer team.
District leaders confirmed that the high school placed the girls soccer coaching staff on leave and removed varsity seniors involved in the incident from the team, according to district proceedings reported by WSYX. The meeting marked the board's first public session since allegations surfaced surrounding an Aug. 11 off-campus team-bonding event referred to by participants as a "kidnapping." Broadcast reports and district reviews indicated that senior players bound younger teammates with zip ties on wrists, plastic wrap around bodies and duct tape over eyes while also forcing hot dogs into their mouths.
Previously, Pique Media reported on Oct. 1 that Delaware County Sheriff Declines Charges in Olentangy Orange Hazing Case the Delaware County Sheriff's Office concluded a criminal incident occurred during the summer event involving 12 victims and six suspects, but closed its investigation without formal charges due to limited evidence and uncooperative participants.
During public comments Thursday, parents criticized the district's response as insufficient. A mother with a student in the district for 10 years told board members that a bullying culture had been minimized in schools, describing the discipline handed down as “very, soft and does not share the message of the zero tolerance”. Another parent, Charlotte Lizon, urged leaders to demonstrate accountability, stating, “It was a really terrible thing that happened to some very vulnerable kids in our district, and this is an opportunity for us to stand on our values and back them.”
Superintendent Todd Meyer confirmed that the district’s internal investigation is still ongoing. Addressing the board, Meyer expressed disappointment over the incident, stating, “We must look in the mirror and learn from this situation, strengthen our education and prevention, improve our reporting and response efforts and continue fostering a culture where every single kid feels safe, respected and valued.”
Board President Brandon Lester emphasized that protecting students requires meaningful systemic action beyond written rules, stating, “If we cannot support the physical and mental health and well-being of our students, we have nothing right,” Lester said. Officials are reevaluating how the district educates students on hazing, processes complaints and addresses school culture around student activities.
Meyer announced that administrators are scheduled to present detailed plans and policy reforms at the next board meeting on Oct. 22.
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LEWIS CENTER, Ohio — Olentangy Local School District officials addressed parent anger and outlined planned safety reviews during a school board meeting Thursday, Oct. 8, confronting hazing allegations involving the Olentangy Orange High School girls soccer team.
District leaders confirmed that the high school placed the girls soccer coaching staff on leave and removed varsity seniors involved in the incident from the team, according to district proceedings reported by WSYX. The meeting marked the board's first public session since allegations surfaced surrounding an Aug. 11 off-campus team-bonding event referred to by participants as a "kidnapping." Broadcast reports and district reviews indicated that senior players bound younger teammates with zip ties on wrists, plastic wrap around bodies and duct tape over eyes while also forcing hot dogs into their mouths.
Previously, Pique Media reported on Oct. 1 that Delaware County Sheriff Declines Charges in Olentangy Orange Hazing Case the Delaware County Sheriff's Office concluded a criminal incident occurred during the summer event involving 12 victims and six suspects, but closed its investigation without formal charges due to limited evidence and uncooperative participants.
During public comments Thursday, parents criticized the district's response as insufficient. A mother with a student in the district for 10 years told board members that a bullying culture had been minimized in schools, describing the discipline handed down as “very, soft and does not share the message of the zero tolerance”. Another parent, Charlotte Lizon, urged leaders to demonstrate accountability, stating, “It was a really terrible thing that happened to some very vulnerable kids in our district, and this is an opportunity for us to stand on our values and back them.”
Superintendent Todd Meyer confirmed that the district’s internal investigation is still ongoing. Addressing the board, Meyer expressed disappointment over the incident, stating, “We must look in the mirror and learn from this situation, strengthen our education and prevention, improve our reporting and response efforts and continue fostering a culture where every single kid feels safe, respected and valued.”
Board President Brandon Lester emphasized that protecting students requires meaningful systemic action beyond written rules, stating, “If we cannot support the physical and mental health and well-being of our students, we have nothing right,” Lester said. Officials are reevaluating how the district educates students on hazing, processes complaints and addresses school culture around student activities.
Meyer announced that administrators are scheduled to present detailed plans and policy reforms at the next board meeting on Oct. 22.
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https://abc6onyourside.com/news/olentangy-school-board-addresses-parent-anger-over-hazing-response
Supporting evidence (9)
District leaders confirmed that the high school placed the girls soccer coaching staff on leave and removed varsity seniors involved in the incident from the team, according to district proceedings reported by WSYX.
Read supporting passage
The school placed the coaching staff on leave and removed varsity seniors involved from the team.
Broadcast reports and district reviews indicated that senior players bound younger teammates with zip ties on wrists, plastic wrap around bodies and duct tape over eyes while also forcing hot dogs into their mouths.
Read supporting passage
zip ties on wrists, plastic wrap around bodies and duct tape over eyes. Parents said these acts happened during a summer team-bonding event called “kidnapping.”
A mother with a student in the district for 10 years told board members that a bullying culture had been minimized in schools, describing the discipline handed down as “very, soft and does not share the message of the zero tolerance”.
Read supporting passage
“The consequences that I feel were that were handed down were very, soft and does not share the message of the zero tolerance,” said the same mother.
Another parent, Charlotte Lizon, urged leaders to demonstrate accountability, stating, “It was a really terrible thing that happened to some very vulnerable kids in our district, and this is an opportunity for us to stand on our values and back them.”
Read supporting passage
“It was a really terrible thing that happened to some very vulnerable kids in our district, and this is an opportunity for us to stand on our values and back them,” Charlotte Lizon, another parent added.
Superintendent Todd Meyer confirmed that the district’s internal investigation is still ongoing.
Read supporting passage
The district’s internal investigation is still ongoing
Addressing the board, Meyer expressed disappointment over the incident, stating, “We must look in the mirror and learn from this situation, strengthen our education and prevention, improve our reporting and response efforts and continue fostering a culture where every single kid feels safe, respected and valued.”
Read supporting passage
“We must look in the mirror and learn from this situation, strengthen our education and prevention, improve our reporting and response efforts and continue fostering a culture where every single kid feels safe, respected and valued.”
Board President Brandon Lester emphasized that protecting students requires meaningful systemic action beyond written rules, stating, “If we cannot support the physical and mental health and well-being of our students, we have nothing right,” Lester said.
Read supporting passage
“If we cannot support the physical and mental health and well-being of our students, we have nothing right,” Lester said.
Meyer announced that administrators are scheduled to present detailed plans and policy reforms at the next board meeting on Oct. 22.
Read supporting passage
The superintendent announced the district will provide more details about plans to address hazing at the next scheduled board meeting on October 22.
Retained video evidence
Delaware County Sheriff Declines Charges in Olentangy Orange Hazing Case
Supporting evidence (1)
Previously, Pique Media reported on Oct. 1 that Delaware County Sheriff Declines Charges in Olentangy Orange Hazing Case the Delaware County Sheriff's Office concluded a criminal incident occurred during the summer event involving 12 victims and six suspects, but closed its investigation without formal charges due to limited evidence and uncooperative participants.
Read supporting passage
Delaware County Sheriff Declines Charges in Olentangy Orange Hazing Case
Delaware County Sheriff Declines Charges in Olentangy Orange Hazing Case
Supporting evidence (1)
Previously, Pique Media reported on Oct. 1 that Delaware County Sheriff Declines Charges in Olentangy Orange Hazing Case the Delaware County Sheriff's Office concluded a criminal incident occurred during the summer event involving 12 victims and six suspects, but closed its investigation without formal charges due to limited evidence and uncooperative participants.
Read supporting passage
Delaware County Sheriff Declines Charges in Olentangy Orange Hazing Case
Parents question Olentangy Orange soccer hazing response as school board outlines next steps
Supporting evidence (1)
Retained video evidence
Olentangy School leaders address hazing incident, create plan to move forward
Supporting evidence (1)
Retained video evidence