The Hamilton Board of Education voted 5-0 Tuesday to pass a resolution that stated the summer school principal’s job at Highland Elementary previously offered to Brookwood Elementary Assistant Principal Kevin Kernohan is now rescinded.
The board took their action without comment.
Earlier Tuesday the Journal-News was the first to report that Kernohan was “placed on administrative leave effective April 30 after (Hamilton Schools) was informed by HPD (Hamilton Police Department) that they were conducting an investigation of his being involved in possible criminal conduct.”
“As of this writing,” school officials said in Tuesday’s statement, “it is our understanding that Kernohan has not been charged with any wrongdoing.”
Kernohan, who was previously assistant principal of Ridgeway Elementary after being hired by Hamilton Schools in 2015, has not responded to messages seeking comment.
Hamilton Police officials said Monday there were no incident reports concerning Kernohan. On Tuesday, police officials did not respond to requests for information as to any change in that status.
Messages left with police officials Wednesday did not elicit an immediate response.
On May 4, according to records obtained through this news outlet’s public documents request, Kernohan was ordered removed from paid administrative leave and placed on sick leave — accumulated during his work at the district — by order of Hamilton Schools Superintendent Larry Knapp and Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Chad Konkle.
“Your continued absences will be covered by your accumulation of paid sick leave until such time that a medical doctor provides a medical release that you are fit for duty. If paid sick leave is exhausted in the process, your salary will be unpaid,” according to the May 4 memo to Kernohan.
Kernohan’s annual salary is listed as $68,368.
School officials declined to comment further.
Prior to joining Hamilton Schools, Kernohan worked for the Butler County Education Service Center from 2012-2014 as its progress program principal.
He is a graduate of Fairfield High School, Miami University and the University of Cincinnati.
He worked for Cincinnati Public Schools’ project grad program from 2003-2012.
And in 2009 he worked part-time as a Lakota West High School junior varsity boys basketball coach.
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