To the Northwestern Local School District Board of Education:

We, the undersigned parents, guardians, residents, and concerned community members, call for the resignation of the Northwestern Jr./Sr. High School principal, vice principal, and Superintendent Ryan Rismiller.

Our schools must protect students’ safety, dignity, and constitutional rights. The reported student searches, the incident involving a secured band classroom, and the district’s response have seriously undermined our confidence in its leadership.

Our concerns include:

• Reports that students were directed to lift their shirts during cellphone searches in mixed-gender classrooms, including instructions reportedly demonstrated near the bra line.

• Reports that students faced threats of detention or suspension for refusing to comply.

• The reported forced entry by a principal through a classroom door while a lockdown security device was attached, apparent damage to security hardware, and subsequent berating of frightened eighth-grade band students.

• An investigation announcement that did not explain whether affected students were interviewed, how conflicting accounts were evaluated, or whether the band-classroom incident was investigated.

These reports require a thorough examination. Our demand for resignation reflects a loss of confidence in these administrators’ leadership and the adequacy of the district’s response; it does not depend on a criminal conviction or a court finding of liability.

We ask the Board of Education to:

1. Request the resignation of the principal, vice principal, and superintendent. If they decline, initiate an appropriate review of their continued employment under applicable law and contractual procedures.

2. Arrange an independent investigation by qualified professionals who were not involved in the incidents or the district’s initial review. The investigation must include opportunities for affected students, parents, and staff to provide firsthand accounts.

3. Preserve all relevant evidence, including security footage and metadata, staff communications, search instructions, lockdown records, investigation materials, photographs, and damaged door-security hardware.

4. Provide written assurances that students, families, and employees will not face retaliation for reporting concerns or participating in an investigation.

5. Publicly explain the investigation’s scope, findings, and corrective actions to the extent permitted by student-privacy and personnel laws.

6. Review student-search and lockdown procedures and provide staff training addressing student dignity, constitutional limits, and emergency safety.

We request that this petition be formally acknowledged and addressed at the next available public Board meeting.

Our children deserve leadership that earns their trust, respects their dignity, and answers openly to the community.

By signing, I support the requests stated above.