“You are directed to preserve, unchanged, any work-related communications and property in your possession, including any text or email messages you have sent to or received from other Oakwood personnel, students or families related to the girls’ locker rooms investigation,” Gupta’s letter states.
The letter also instructs Waller to “refrain from having any contact with Oakwood students or their families regarding Oakwood High School business, including the recent girls’ locker rooms investigation.”
Waller remains on paid leave, according to the district. The district received information of a potential violation of the Oakwood High School student conduct code related to the locker rooms, said Amanda Brown, Oakwood schools’ spokeswoman.
“We are still in the process of looking into a number of issues, and it is District practice not to comment on ongoing personnel concerns,” Brown said in an email.
The Dayton Daily News is aware of multiple similar posts on social media alleging details of locker room incidents and subsequent response, but has not had them confirmed by the school district or a first-hand source.
District spokeswoman Amanda Brown said Friday afternoon Waller remains on paid administrative leave.
Gupta did not say why Waller was placed on leave when the action was announced Feb. 2, nor did he say how long the leave may last.
Patrick Masters, a retired administrator from Dayton and Northmont schools, was named interim principal. The school district worked with the county Educational Service Center to place Masters in the role, Brown said then.
Waller has served as Oakwood High School principal since August 2009, district records show. Waller has consistently scored in the top two categories in annual performance evaluations, Oakwood records show. The Dayton Daily News requested Waller’s personnel file and other documents Feb. 5 under Ohio’s public records law, and received them from the district Friday.
A 2015 evaluation signed by then-Superintendent Kyle Ramey stated he “had another great year as one of the very best principals in the entire state.”
The following year, Ramey cited Waller’s “excellent crisis management.”
Waller’s annual salary effective Aug. 1, 2023, was $156,093 with an annual annuity of $10,810, according to school district records. At the time he was hired, Waller’s annual salary was $102,000 with a yearly annuity of $4,080, records show.
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