Springboro parents want former elementary teacher’s mom reassigned
Hopkins suggests families were paid for allegations.
The lawyer representing parents of 28 Springboro schoolchildren in a lawsuit against the school district, administrators and former teacher John
Austin Hopkins wants his mother to be reassigned.
The parents want Lisa Hopkins, a teacher at Sprinboro, reassigned so she has no contact with their children. On Friday, she hurled accusations at the parents after her son was found guilty of 34 counts of gross sexual imposition and taken into custody.
On Monday, lawyer Angela Wallace acknowledged the parents’ concern about Lisa Hopkins being around their children was less immediate in light of schools being closed due to the COVID19 coronavirus threat.
But Wallace called upon Springboro school officials to find another assignment for the longtime teacher.
“The parents are very concerned in the immediate future about the presence of Lisa Hopkins around their children,” Hopkins said. “There’s no way to separate them.”
In April 2019, after the case against her son surfaced, Lisa Hopkins - employed with Springboro Schools since 1990 - was reassigned to teach fifth grade at Dennis Elementary. She had been teaching second grade at
Dennis since 2015.
On Friday Judge Robert Peeler read the individual verdict forms indicating her son was guilty on 34 of 36 gross sexual imposition charges. After that, Lisa Hopkins became upset and yelled out suggesting the parents were being paid for pursuing the allegations.
John Austin Hopkins was taken into custody, pending sentenc
ing, expected next month.
Peeler said he would have John Austin Hopkins psychologically evaluated before sentencing him.
On Monday, the school district did not respond to inquiries about reassigning Lisa Hopkins.
On Friday, Superintdendent Carrie Hester issued a statement expressing support for the verdicts and indicating students would be protected, as well as support for the affected families.
“Protecting the safety of Springboro Schools’ students is the district’s highest priority,” Hester said in the statement. “No child, or family, should ever have to experience what many of our Springboro families have gone through over this past year, and beyond. The actions taken by Mr. Hopkins caused a great deal of pain for numerous individuals in our community.
The district is confident, given the numerous safeguards in place, that Springboro
Schools will provide a safe and secure environment for all our students. Our hearts are with those families affected, and we are forever grateful to those who worked diligently to bring Mr. Hopkins to justice.”
David Chicarelli, elder member of the father-son team defending Hopkins, declined comment Monday on the verdicts and did not reply to a latter inquiry about the parents’ call for Lisa Hopkins’
reassignment.
Surveillance video from Hopkins’ 1st grade gym class at Clearcreek Elementary was key evidence in the criminal case.
Wallace said she was in communication with the U.S. Department of Education over the school district’s refusal to turn over surveillance video for the children she was representing in the federal lawsuit.
Sandra McIntosh, lawyer for the school district, referred questions to Scott
Marshall, the district’s communications coordinator.
Marshall did not respond to inquiries Monday.
Wallace said the federal lawsuit was pending, while awaiting a scheduling conference with the attorneys and judge in the case.
“Once that conference happens, we will be moving full speed ahead,” Wallace said.
Contact this reporter at 937-225-2261 or email Larry.Budd@coxinc.com.