Disabilities board superintendent on leave

TIFFIN — The Seneca County Board of Developmental Disabilities placed Superintendent Lewis Hurst on paid administrative leave this past weekend, according to a statement from the board. The move follows a special meeting Saturday, March 28. In its statement, the board described the leave as a "private personnel issue" that is "not otherwise related to Mr. Hurst's leadership." The board declined to comment further, citing the private nature of the matter.Natasha Nichols, Director of Service and Support Administration, has been named interim superintendent. A second special board meeting was scheduled Tuesday at the Seneca County Opportunity Center, 780 E CR 20, Tiffin, for the board to further discuss personnel matters. The leadership change coincides with reports regarding staffing levels and safety at the Opportunity Center. Information provided to The Advertiser-Tribune suggests the school has been without a principal for about three months, a claim corroborated by an active "Director of Educational Services" listing on the SCBDD website seeking an "experienced Principal."Additional concerns have been raised regarding the ratio of staff to high-needs students. Reports indicate the center currently serves eight students, six of whom require one-on-one support ratings. While the board has not addressed these specific figures, their current job board highlights an immediate need for "One-on-One Teacher Aides" and a wide array of substitute positions, including RNs and Intervention Specialists. The leave comes roughly three weeks after Hurst's March 10 update to the Seneca County commissioners. During that session, Hurst noted the district was in "good financial shape" but acknowledged the difficulty of balancing a population of physically disabled students with younger students exhibiting "aggressive" behaviors. "I can't have them [aggressive students] hitting the vulnerable kids," Hurst told the commissioners, noting the district was seeking a "right balance" for safety. At that time, Hurst also confirmed the privatization of the adult program was complete, calling the transition "seamless." It remains unclear if the Ohio Department of Education or the Department of Developmental Disabilities has initiated any inquiries into the district's staffing compliance.