Why did board reject Bauer's resignation?

MONROEVILLE — Many community members demand answers from Monroeville's school board as it relates to an embattled employee charged with rape and other sex-related offenses against a minor-aged student she taught. And, on Friday, one local administrator — pointing to a document the Register obtained through a public records request — provided some clarity on a looming decision. The allegations It all stems from the district receiving a formal complaint in November 2024, alleging school employee Holly Bauer, 42, of Monroeville, sexually assaulted and harassed an underage boy. Since then, the Huron County Sheriff's Office conducted its own investigation. It concluded on March 7 with authorities arresting and booking Bauer into the Huron County Jail. One week later, on March 14, a Huron County grand jury indicted Bauer on the following charges: • Five counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, each a third-degree felony • Four counts of sexual battery, each a third-degree felony • Three counts of rape, each a first-degree felony • Two counts of failure to comply with underage alcohol laws, each a first-degree misdemeanor • One count of burglary, a second-degree felony • One count of trespass, a fourth-degree felony Bauer, who's technically still considered a district employee, remains on unpaid leave from the school and is out of jail on a $100,000 bond. The meeting On Monday, April 7, Monroeville Schools hosted a special meeting to discuss and vote on whether or not to accept Bauer's resignation letter. Tempers flared as district stakeholders, including parents, pleaded with school administrators and elected board members to address this issue in a public forum. Following the meeting, many people seemed baffled when trying to understand why board members rejected Bauer's resignation letter, which means she's still, technically, a school employee. So why did the board take this action? It all circles back to the district following state law, according to one high-ranking official overseeing these matters for Monroeville. "It was a board decision," said district treasurer Paul DeMarco, who doesn't vote on issues like this. The same holds true for district superintendent Kristin Kaple-Jones. DeMarco couldn't give an exact timeline for when a decision regarding Bauer's fate with the district could happen. "We are moving at the pace we are moving because that's the policy, and we have to be very careful that we follow everything by the law," said DeMarco, referencing Monroeville's policy and the Ohio Revised Code. "There are mandatory steps we need to take," he said. "I understand people want us to act fast, but it's just not that easy. We have to follow the law." It's not clear how Bauer could be affected — if she were to resign as opposed to being fired — as it relates to her pension, teaching license or possible legal action. The letter Following the April 7 meeting, DeMarco published a letter sent to certain individuals, namely Bauer — another document the Register obtained through a public records request — outlining the allegations leveled against her. It's interpreted as a school board-sanctioned document determining if she broke district policies. DeMarco stressed how the school doesn't have the authority to charge or arrest people. It can, however, determine an employee's fate as a district representative. The letter references information learned from nearly 500 pages of documents conducted by an independent investigator who analyzed all aspects of the relationship between Bauer and this boy, another document the Register obtained through a public records request. DeMarco's letter takes information from this investigation — and, at its conclusion, makes a recommendation in determining Bauer's fate. In his letter, DeMarco refers to himself as the "decision-maker" and Bauer as the "respondent." DeMarco serves as a decision-maker based upon state and federal laws requiring a public body administrator to fill out this role in situations calling for this process. "It is the recommendation of this decision-maker that the disciplinary sanction of termination be imposed upon respondent," DeMarco wrote. DeMarco doesn't actually have the authority to fire Bauer. That decision is left up to the school board at an upcoming, albeit unknown, date. In his letter, DeMarco based his decision of termination not on Bauer's alleged sexual activity with the boy but on her violating staff conduct. Through the independent investigation, the boy believed he and Bauer had sex about 20 times over what appears to be a two-year period from 2022 to 2023. The investigator didn't definitively come out and conclude Bauer did or did not have sex with the boy, guidance DeMarco followed in his recommendation. "I find that the allegation is not supported by a preponderance of the evidence collected through the district's investigation of the" boy, DeMarco wrote. But, "The evidence does support the conclusion that (Bauer) engaged in serious misconduct, which included the grooming of a child, violations of criminal law and violations of a directive she had received from the district to maintain a professional relationship with" the boy, DeMarco wrote. DeMarco pointed to one instance in particular: In September 2023, Bauer called the boy more than 40 times, entered his home and began crying outside his bedroom door, according to the investigation. When the boy's mother learned about this, she told Bauer to leave. He also called attention to Bauer's only documented disciplinary action as it relates to the boy. In June 2022, she received a written reprimand due to violating staff conduct over questionable contact she had with the boy. Even after this, she's still accused of taking the boy on vacation with her family. "Based on the findings in the investigator's report, there were many violations of board policy and the licensure code of professional conduct for Ohio educators," DeMarco wrote. What's next? Regarding this situation, going forward, DeMarco made one promise: The board plans to act as quickly as possible to make a concrete decision on this matter based on all information presented. It's possible, however, the case could drag on for months, even after a decision is made, based upon potential appeals all parties have rights to exercise, DeMarco said. "As soon as we can make a decision, we will," DeMarco said.