Wood and Northmont City School Schools Superintendent Sarah Zatik declined to give specifics about the investigation when contacted by this newspaper in March. Zatik stated then, “There is absolutely no criminal involvement in this matter.”
Schneider, who has been the head football coach for 16 years, did not respond when contacted by this newspaper.
On Monday, the district released a letter dated March 24 that was sent to Schneider from Zatik that read, “By this letter and effective immediately, you are placed on paid administrative leave and assigned to your home during work hours. This assignment will continue until further written notice to you. This action is being taken pending investigation into matters regarding your employment as a teacher and a coach for the Northmont City School District.”
Schneider, a physical education teacher, was ordered not to be on school grounds, not to attend any district function and not to access any school computers or networks unless given advance written permission to do so. He was also ordered not to contact school staff, Board of Education members, students or parents.
This newspaper on March 30 viewed Schneider’s personnel file, which did not include the March 24 letter or any information indicating that Schneider was on sick/medical leave.
When asked Monday why this information was not in his personnel file, Wood responded on behalf of Zatik by saying, “It is not in his file as it is part of an ongoing investigation that is yet to be completed.”
Schneider, whose teaching salary is $70,188 and head coaching salary is $7,867, was placed on sick/medical leave on March 27.
Zatik sent the following message to staff via email at 1:31 p.m. on March 26:
“Dear Staff,
Just so that you can squelch any rumors you hear in the community or among your students, we are looking into a complaint that involves Mr. Schneider. This is not a criminal matter and does not involve any physical abuse or neglect of a student or staff member. As this is a personnel matter, I trust that you will understand why I cannot say more. Thank you!”
Zatik told the newspaper in March, “It’s really an internal matter at this point. It’s a personnel issue. I need to investigate some things and talk to a few people.”
When asked if the complaint had to do with children, Zatik said, “It has nothing to do with any physical, sexual, any neglect issues like that at all.”
Zatik also said that the complaint came from within the district.
“This was not related to parent concerns,” she said.
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