Choir investigation costs district

An investigation into its show choir is costing Findlay City Schools money. But, the district won't say how much. In November, Kevin Manley was placed on leave from his teaching duties and directing Findlay First Edition. The leave is pending an investigation by a third-party hired by the district to look into the choir students' behavior and culture. Despite Manley's leave, the choir is still performing. District spokesperson Kelly Cheney said substitute coverage was found for all of Manley's students with the assistance of a former choral director. The district continues to review files to answer a public records request asking for any complaints, statements or other records relating to a 2019 investigation into the program or other recent documents. Treasurer Pam Harrington said she was still trying to locate any "potentially responsive records." The district's 2019 investigation resulted in Manley taking a hazing course and being reminded by former assistant superintendent Troy Roth that he is responsible for his students and should have made "appropriate referrals for disciplinary action under the extracurricular code of conduct." Cheney would not say if the current investigation is regarding the same incidents reported in 2019. Joseph Weitz, spokesperson for the Educational Services Center of Central Ohio — the third-party investigating Findlay First Edition — said they have no documents indicating the reason for the investigation. He said they were contacted by the district on Nov. 28. But, the investigation isn't free. "School districts are able to request services from any educational service center statewide, as needed," Weitz said. "These services are billed to the school district." The district's board of education went into two executive sessions, once at the October public meeting and again at the November public meeting, to discuss "employment and compensation of personnel and the purchase or sale of property." The public is not given access to the executive session portion of school board meetings. It's unclear if retaining the Educational Services Center's services was discussed during the executive sessions. There are no published records of the district voting to obtain the third-party services for the investigation. Cheney is still reviewing questions regarding the sale of the services, how much the district is expected to pay or was quoted to pay. The district is sitting at about a $75,000 deficit and is considering putting a levy on an upcoming ballot. A remaining $1.9 million in emergency relief funds is set to run out next September. Harrington said they have budgeted for salaries, benefits and to finish "purchase services" the district has committed to. Cheney has not yet said if the cost of the investigation has been included in the budget or not.