Waite High School Principal refuses to comment on an issue of student safety.

 

Students from Kent State University Computer Assisted Reporting class
researching information on their specific Ohio school district.

Some say football is not for the meek or weak at heart, that it takes a strong body and mind to play this game. But what about the kids who pay football at an early age? Should parents be concerned with the long term affects a hard hit during a game, could have on their child? well according to dr. omalu's op-ed, he recommends that high school students should not play football, due to the seriously damaging affects it could have to their brain development.

Waite High School

Students from Kent State University Computer Assisted Reporting class wanted to know "Are high schools informing parents and athletes of these risks? And how does the Principal and the Board President feel about Dr. Omalu's op-ed?" This reporter was assigned to Toledo Public Schools, and the high school in which I was to report on was Waite High School. After first sending out the initial public records request and a link to the op-ed on September 11, 2016, there was also an attempt to

Waite High School Principal Todd Deem

call the school and speak with the principal Todd Deem over the phone. After a week of calling and being told the principal was "not in the school" I finally was transferred over to the athletic director Cris Lorton, who informed me that she nor the principal or the board president would speak with me without first getting consent from the communications rep. by the name of Patty Mazure.

Ms. Mazure herself, took another three days to get in contact with, but once she contacted me back she allowed me to speak with the principal and board president as long as they agreed to it. That was the tricky part, another week and two more emails later I finally received the documents pertaining to athletic sign up into football. Waite High School, is giving students and parents real in depth insight on the risks they run playing football. The documents even break down what a concussion is and how it affects your brain. 

But while the documents were sent, there was still no confirmation from either the principal Mr. Todd Deem or the board president Bob Vasquez on if they agreed with Dr. Omalu's op-ed. After many attempts to contact the principal he finally emailed back stating "I have nothing else to add at this time." which seems to be troubling, because Mr. Deem is a former Waite High School football player himself. Yet he had no opinion on an article written that speaks to the exact dangers of a sport he himself played? 

School Board President Bob Vasquez

When dealing with the school board president Bob Vasquez, there was no contact at all, after the initial contact was made, there was a three day period where three phone calls were made to his office with no answer. After leaving voice messages and finally getting a call back from his secretary Angela Jordan two days

later, she informed me that he only communicates via email, and does not speak on the phone to reporters. so that begs the question; "are these important issues even being talked about?" When dealing with a matter of student safety, should the school board president or the principal be able to make a statement to a reporter on the subject without first getting "permission" from a communications rep.?

The answer is no. In the end neither Principal Todd Deem nor School Board President Bob Vasquez would agree to a Skype interview, or even to comment on their thoughts about the op-ed. As stated previously Kent States Computer Assisted Reporting class contacted schools from all over Ohio in order to get their thoughts on the op-ed, unfortunately only a hand full of principals and board presidents responded and commented. 

What I learned 

Kayla Hodge(Reporter)
Khodge4@kent.edu

What I learned from this project is not to allow myself to be pulled around by people. Playing phone tag and waiting for calls back. I've learned to be more proactive and read between the lines. I learned to be more direct when trying to get information, don't get knocked around with games and being lead astray. Make sure I always check my facts, Write down everything and to keep very detailed and accurate notes. This project has taught me how to dig deep into a story and really get after what I am looking for and not just the fluff of the story. It has been very difficult trying to contact people as it pertained to this project, so I learned how to be persistent and patient. This project has taught me how to never take no for an answer.