Ninneka, they are trying to find a painful solution. very. It’s devastating. I mean, I’ve taught those kids a lot, but you’re just making me sick to my stomach. Really. Ninneka residents say everything about the school sexual abuse scandal makes them sick, including the price tag. The judge ordered the local government to pay $7.5 million. One million of that money will come from the school’s insurance. 500,000 would come from their general fund, and the remaining 6 million would be paid by property owners in the district over three years. Two million is a lot of money to divide between a small community. That’s going to hurt everyone. But, you know, our community is primarily agricultural, and I think having farmers address this will have a big impact on them. But now those homeowners are getting help. A consultant is currently being hired by the school to help the community find its next steps. That’s a challenge no one in any community wants to face. And, and, my job is not to provide solutions that the board will like, but to go back to the board with ideas that the board may not like. Kathleen Kennedy said she and her team wrote down many ideas they heard during a meeting with Ninneka residents Wednesday night. Part of their solution includes lawsuits against individuals involved in or withdrawing funds from bonds passed last year, which could appear to preserve the district’s continuity; Maybe not. It may or may not look like we will have some of the current board members in place in the future. The superintendent will not comment today, but the consultant hopes to return to the community soon after completing his report.
Ninneka’s property taxes could rise to cover sexual abuse settlement with school district
Ninneka residents are facing millions of dollars in sexual abuse settlements, leaving homeowners reeling.
Updated: October 24, 2024 6:10pm CDT
Ninneka residents are facing millions of dollars in sexual abuse settlements, leaving homeowners reeling. >> Download the KOCO 5 app A Grady County judge has ordered the Ninneka School District to pay $7.5 million to resolve a sexual abuse scandal at its school. $1 million will come from the school’s insurance policy, $500,000 from the general fund, and the remaining $6 million will be paid over three years by property owners within the district. “It’s going to be a blow to everyone, but our community is primarily agricultural, so I think farmers will be hit hard,” said Ninneka resident Judy Ratzlaff. In 2023, former teacher and basketball coach Ronald Akins pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a female student. He was arrested in 2021, but the abuse dates back to 2015. Akins was the district’s girls basketball coach. Lawyers argued that the school district knew about the allegations but took no action. Residents said everything about the scandal, including the price tag, made them sick. “I’m hurt. I’m devastated. I’ve taught a lot of girls like that and it makes me sick to my stomach,” Ratzlaff said. But now homeowners are receiving some assistance. A consultant has been hired to help the community figure out next steps. “This is a challenge that no one wants to face in any community. My job is not to provide a solution that the board will like. My job is to go back to the board and provide solutions that the board may not like. “It’s about reporting ideas that don’t exist,” says Kathleen Kennedy. said Founder and President of the Center for Communication and Engagement. Kennedy said she and her team wrote down many of the ideas they heard during a meeting with Ninneka residents Wednesday night. Those solutions included lawsuits against those involved and withdrawal of funds from bonds signed last year. “That may or may not look like keeping the district open. It may look like it’s not going to have some of the same board members that are there now, or it may look like it’s not going to keep some of the same board members that are there now. “It may look like that,” Kennedy said. The superintendent did not comment on the matter, but said the consultant has completed his report and hopes to return to the community soon. Top Headlines Motorcycle rider sent to hospital after crash in southwest Oklahoma City Pirates take over Massachusetts home, 13-year-old’s amazing Halloween display Suspension of multiple teaching licenses on Oklahoma State Board of Education agenda Possible Oklahoma burger boy affected by deadly E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald’s arrested, suspected of shooting 15-year-old girl near Norman Elementary School
NINNEKA, OKLAHOMA —
Ninneka residents are facing millions of dollars in sexual abuse settlements, leaving homeowners reeling.
>> Download the KOCO 5 app
A Grady County judge has ordered the Ninneka School District to pay $7.5 million to resolve a sexual abuse scandal at the school. $1 million will come from the school’s insurance policy, $500,000 from the general fund, and the remaining $6 million will be paid over three years by property owners within the district.
“It’s going to be a blow to everyone, but our community is primarily agricultural, so I think farmers will be hit hard,” said Ninneka resident Judy Ratzlaff.
In 2023, former teacher and basketball coach Ronald Akins pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a female student. He was arrested in 2021, but the abuse dates back to 2015.
Akins was the district’s girls basketball coach. Lawyers argued that the school district knew about the allegations but failed to act.
Residents said everything about the scandal made them sick, including the price tag.
“I’m hurt. I’m devastated. I’ve taught a lot of girls like that and it makes me sick to my stomach,” Ratzlaff said.
But now homeowners are receiving some assistance. A consultant has been hired to help the community figure out next steps.
“This is a challenge that no one wants to face in any community. My job is not to provide a solution that the board will like. My job is not to go back to the board and provide solutions that the board may not like. “It’s about reporting ideas that don’t exist,” says Kathleen Kennedy. said Founder and President of the Center for Communication and Engagement.
Kennedy said she and her team wrote down many of the ideas they heard during a meeting with Ninneka residents Wednesday night. Those solutions included lawsuits against those involved and withdrawal of funds from bonds signed last year.
“That may or may not look like keeping the district open. It may look like it’s not going to have some of the same board members that are there now, or it may look like it’s not going to keep some of the same board members that are there now. “It may look like that,” Kennedy said.
The superintendent did not comment on the issue.
The consultant said he hopes to return to the community as soon as he completes his report.
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