BOARDMAN — Following submissions of allegations of various forms of abuse in the Boardman Local School District, administrators are monitoring the situation.

Superintendent Timothy Saxton said earlier this week that allegations posted on social media platforms are “frustrating.”

“My frustration right now is when I go through that, there’s a lot of accusations but not a lot of facts or things I can investigate,” he said.

The allegations started about a week ago when 2018 Boardman High School graduate Leigh Carabbia heard that Boardman alumni were recently “facing reports” online of an alleged sexual assault on the Ohio University campus.

The Ohio University police department said it did not have any current cases on file.

The Athens City Police Department confirmed several reports of sexual assault in the city since June 1, but identities of suspects are not being released at this time as charges have not been filed, so it cannot be confirmed if any recent allegations involve Boardman natives.

When Carabbia heard of the online allegations, she said she felt it was the right moment to share her own experiences with “sexism and misogyny and racism” during her time at the high school.

Carabbia said she tried reporting the incidents but to no avail.

“I tried to report it, I tried to be vocal about it, and it got pushed away,” she said.

Saxton said any harassment, especially sexual harassment, is taken “very seriously.” To help faculty identify various forms, they must complete mandatory training.

“Child safety is our No. 1 job,” he said, adding, “Education is No. 2.”

A petition was started calling on the school district to address issues brought up through the submissions that Carabbia has received and posted online.

An anonymous teacher reached out, Carabbia said, and took concerns to the administration.

The alumni felt the response from the administration “was not adequate,” Carabbia said, with their response being “without proof there’s nothing” the district can do, which she said “didn’t sit well with us.”

Saxton said the allegations and concerns he’s seen on social media are general and do not have evidence that can be investigated.

“I don’t see anything I can act upon that backs up a serious claim,” which Saxton said is frustrating.

Upon learning of the postings and petition, Saxton said he reached out to the high school’s resource officer, who was not aware of the allegations.

Still, the superintendent is encouraging anyone with concerns or complaints to reach out to the district.

Oftentimes, Carabbia said, there is an issue when trying to report sexual assault or harassment because proof is needed.

A few of the submitted stories to Carabbia stated the victims tried going to law enforcement, but they were again “brushed off” by investigators.

Carabbia said in her case, she did not want to pursue investigations further because she felt she would be scrutinized.

Within the petition are 12 suggested measures the administration is asked to take, which Saxton said he read, adding the district already follows eight of them.

He said, for example, female counselors and a female principal already are at the high school, and there are partnerships with Meridian Healthcare and Alta Behavioral Healthcare.

There’s also an anonymous email where students can report incidents.

Carabbia said she was not aware of the partnerships and the anonymous email, but would encourage the administration to stress the availabilty of those resources to students going forward.

The goal of the petition, she said, is not to have anyone fired, but instead to “make Boardman a better place.”

afox@tribtoday.com