The public deserves transparency from Midview Schools

The Midview school board needs to explain to the public what's going on with Frank Major, the district's soon-to-be-ex-superintendent. Board members voted Wednesday to place Major on extended medical leave with pay through May 1, when his resignation will take effect. They also named the district's director of pupil services, Meredith Udris, as interim superintendent. It's hard to believe, however, that a medical issue alone explains what's happening with Major, who became superintendent in 2024. Prior to that he had served the district as assistant superintendent since 2017 after stints working for North Ridgeville Schools and Vermilion Schools. Skepticism is warranted because on Sunday, the board held an emergency meeting in which members approved a resolution "relieving the Superintendent of his duties, with pay, pending the outcome of an investigation after certain allegations came to the Board of Education's attention regarding the Superintendent's actions in connection with the performance of his duties." So, not a medical issue, or at least not solely a medical one. We suppose it's possible that whatever actions Major allegedly took that warranted an investigation could be tied to some sort of medical condition. Besides, school boards don't usually hold emergency meetings on weekends unless there's some sort of crisis. If it were solely a medical issue, surely whatever the problem was could have waited until the board's regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday. Beyond that, the agenda for Sunday's meeting contained two items, both apparently related to Major. One was "dismissal," while the other was "investigation of charges/complaints against a public employee, official, licensee or regulated individual (unless public hearing requested)." Unfortunately, the school board has opted to remain mum about whatever led to the investigation. "Because this matter is in the investigation stage, it would be improper for me to disclose any additional information at this time," school board president Tom Tomasheski said in the statement Sunday. When pressed by our reporter Garrett Looker on Wednesday, Tomasheski again opted against transparency. He instead referred the media and, by extension, the public to the district's news releases. A release put out Wednesday announced Major's medical leave and separation agreement. It also said the board would immediately begin searching for a new superintendent. "Beyond the release, I cannot provide any more context," Tomasheski said. Context, however, is necessary for the public to understand what is happening with the district's leadership. Absent more information, there's no way for the public to judge how serious the allegations against Major are. Secrecy leads to rumors and speculation. While we understand that medical information isn't usually subject to public disclosure, information about alleged misconduct shouldn't enjoy such privileged status. Again, whatever is going on with Major doesn't appear to be just a medical issue. The school board would better serve the public by disclosing the allegations, even if the names of potential victims or the full details need to be withheld. It's also unclear whether Major's departure has ended the investigation. Nor do we know whether whatever he's been accused of warrants a law enforcement investigation or even if law enforcement has been contacted. Does the district need to worry about being sued because of whatever Major allegedly did? The answers to those questions might be uncomfortable for the board, Major and others, but Major is a public employee. The public — voters, taxpayers, students, parents and staff — deserves transparency. By refusing to disclose more information, the school board has left whatever happened with Major to the imagination. The longer the board remains silent, the wilder flights of imagination are likely to become.