COLUMBUS — The Ohio State Board of Education has recommended the Mansfield City Schools treasurer be placed on a two-year probation by the Ohio Department of Education for his behavior in another district in 2012-2013.
On Oct. 10, the state board of education recommended the two-year suspension of Robert Kuehnle’s treasurer’s license and teaching license for “engaging in conduct unbecoming to educator’s position” while employed as the treasurer in the Benjamin-Logan School District’s treasurer.
However, the state board recommended the suspension be “stayed” during the period, “provided that (Kuehnle) does not engage in further conduct unbecoming” and that he complete eight hours of “boundary training.”
Kuehnle has the right to object and/or appeal the recommendation. After that the case will be scheduled for the state board to review and issue a final decision, according to Dan Minnich, executive director of communications and outreach for the Ohio Department of Education.
During June and July, Kuehnle had a three-day hearing at the Ohio Department of Education about allegations of misconduct and failing to maintain professional relationships with students.
Those allegations included “tweeting” at a then-student in the district for non-educational purposes, paying approximately $800 for a student to attend an educational trip to Boston and having lunch with her upon her return.
The board also found that in January 2013, Kuehnle tweeted to a different student, implying she was tall, blonde and beautiful.
Mansfield School Board President Renda Cline said Wednesday the board, which met Tuesday, has not reviewed the recommendation.
“We were happy to see that the report of the State Board of Education specifically found that, with respect to the social media tweets and direct contacts that Mr. Kuehnle had with students while he was treasurer at the Benjamin-Logan Local school district 6 years ago, that there was nothing in the evidence which in any way showed any improper or bad intent by Mr. Kuehnle,” said the respondent’s counsel, James C. Carpenter of Steptoe and Johnson in Columbus. “The Report notes that back in 2013, when Mr. Kuehnle was the Treasurer of the Benjamin-Logan Local Schools, that that district had a policy that teachers and staff were not to have electronic communications with students and that Mr. Kuehnle had violated that policy by having made several tweets to students of Benjamin-Logan. However, and importantly, the report refers to the Benjamin Local Superintendent’s conclusion that Mr. Kuehnle had in no way crossed a line into an area that would be improper or inappropriate with students. The report specifically found that in the past 6 years, Mr. Kuehnle has not had any contacts with students on social media. Finally, we note that the report concluded that based upon all of the evidence presented at the recent hearing, that at this time it would be unfair to enforce any sanctions against Mr. Kuehnle. Mr. Kuehnle is to continue refraining from contacts with students on social media for any non-educational related purpose.”
A three-day hearing on the matter was completed on July 15 in Columbus.
