Board members went along with the recommendations that were presented by the referee, John Butz, who was appointed by the Ohio Department of Education. The recommendation was based on hundreds of pages of testimony that was given by witnesses.
The resolution stated that Dahlberg’s “conduct (with students) was hostile to the welfare of the school community.” It was grounds for termination.
One female student reported in May 2008 that she was sent unwanted text messages by Dahlberg. Another female reported in December that she was directed sexually charged questions twice during class by Dahlberg.
A third student also reported that Dahlberg inappropriately touched her on the back during class.
According to Dahlberg, the incident was a "witch hunt" by Finkes and students at the school. However, Butz could justify that claim.
Superintendent Debbie Finkes said she was proud of the students who came forward and that she is satisfied with the resolution of the case.
The following is a statement that was issued by Dahlberg's attorney: Mr. Dahlberg is a "master teacher" according to the same person who spearheaded his termination – Superintendent Debbie Finkes.
Multiple witnesses including current and former students, colleagues, and parents attested to his excellence in teaching and coaching.
When Mr. Dahlberg first raised the issue of potential Title IX violations within the school district’s athletics program, he was ignored by Ms. Finkes. That was in the spring of 2006. Mr. Dahlberg continued to push for district compliance with Title IX over the next couple of years.
Ms. Finkes then began a retaliatory course of action. Ms. Finkes began calling former students asking if they ever had any problems with Mr. Dahlberg, as a teacher or coach.
It took Ms. Finkes approximately two years, from Mr. Dahlberg’s first allegations of district-wide Title IX violations, to attack his reputation. Prior to this time, no parents or students made a single complaint to the school district.
In fishing for complaints concerning Mr. Dahlberg’s conduct as a teacher and coach, Ms. Finkes would ask both former and current students if they would like to make formal, written complaints regarding Mr. Dahlberg.
Even after Ms. Finkes found complainants, Mr. Dahlberg was not considered a threat to students or their welfare. Neither Ms. Finkes nor the Clark-Shawnee Local School Board felt it necessary to contact the county’s children services agency or local law enforcement.
They continued to keep Mr. Dahlberg in the classroom. While they had the mechanism in place to remove a teacher from the classroom, Ms. Finkes and the Board chose not to do so.
It was only after the Board decided to pursue the termination proceedings that Mr. Dahlberg was removed from the classroom, with pay. Upon his removal, he was transferred to an isolated room, monitoring students serving in-school suspensions.
The actions of the Superintendent and the Board show they never believed Mr. Dahlberg was ever a threat to the students or the welfare of their school community.