Hamilton High School cafeteria manager suspended after investigation

Maria VonStein transferred to Hamilton elementary after 3-day suspension.

A Hamilton City Schools cafeteria manager was suspended this week after an investigation by school district officials.

According to documents obtained by the Journal-News, Hamilton Schools officials ordered Maria VonStein suspended without pay for three days this week for “concerns regarding non-reporting of inappropriate conduct in the work place” at the high school.

The documents, obtained through an Ohio public records request, also show VonStein was transferred from the high school to the cafeteria manager’s position at Brookwood Elementary as of Thursday, Aug. 30.

VonStein was suspended Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday this week, stated a letter from Hamilton City Schools Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Chad Konkle.

In an Aug. 24 letter from Konkle to VonStein, the district official wrote “after reviewing the facts in this case, it is my decision that you be suspended for three days without pay. You are not permitted to be on school district property or at school district events on this (sic) day.”

No students were involved in the “inappropriate conduct” referred to by school officials, said Joni Copas, spokeswoman for the school district.

Hamilton school district officials, however, refused to detail what constituted the “inappropriate conduct” at the high school cafeteria.

“This is a personnel issue and the district does not comment on personnel issues,” said Copas.

VonStein did not respond to a request seeking comment.

Hamilton Police officials said they have no reports of criminal allegations tied to the high school kitchen staff.

According to the Hamilton Health Department, which conducts inspections of school cafeterias in the city, there were no reports of health or food preparation or storage violations at the Hamilton High School cafeteria kitchen during its most recent inspection in May.

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