The following letter was sent to Talawanda School Board members in Oxford, Ohio; (Board President Rebecca Howard, Dawn King, Matt Wyatt, Pat Meade and Chris Otto) on May 1st 2025. This letter was written and sent by a mother/parent who sends her son to Kramer Elementary School in Oxford, Ohio.
Dear Members of the Talawanda School Board,
I am writing to you with a heavy heart and a sense of urgency regarding a deeply disturbing matter involving Elementary Principal Jason Merz and my son. It has taken immense courage to come forward, and I do so now only because another parent has shared a similar experience involving their child, giving me the strength to speak out.
Starting around Week 12 of 2024 my son started exhibiting different behaviors which continued until my son explained what happened early July of 2024, I immediately took him to Butler Behavioral Health for therapy. My son explained the following to me early July of 2024.
Jason (Merz) took him into the cafeteria bathroom stall and told him “Let me touch you”. My son told him “No” and tried to leave the bathroom stall. At that time, Jason Merz, put his leg and foot out and blocked him into the stall and forcibly touched my son and then made my son watch Jason pull his pants down too and proceeded to play with own his penis.
These incidents have caused him significant emotional distress, and as his parent, I am devastated that he has endured this violation received a report that clearly states my son shows signs of sexual abuse.
I have maintained notes documenting each occurrence, including dates, times, and specific details of the interactions, which I am prepared to share with the board and any relevant authorities to ensure a thorough investigation.
When I first became aware of this behavior, I was overwhelmed with fear and uncertainty, unsure of how to protect my child while grappling with the weight of confronting such a serious issue. After another parent confided in me about similar concerns regarding their child, I realized that silence is no longer an option. This pattern of behavior must be addressed immediately to protect all students in our school community.
In an effort to ensure my son’s safety, I requested that he be transferred to another elementary school within the district. To my dismay, this request was denied, leaving my son in an environment where he feels unsafe and vulnerable. I implore the board to reconsider this decision and prioritize my son’s well-being by granting the transfer immediately.
I am calling on the Talawanda School Board to take swift and decisive action. This includes conducting a thorough investigation into Principal Merz’s conduct, ensuring accountability, and implementing measures to prevent such incidents in the future. No child should have to endure what my son and potentially other students have experienced. I trust that the board will treat this matter with the seriousness it demands and act in the best interests of our children.
Please contact me at your earliest convenience to discuss the next steps, including how I can provide my detailed documentation and support the investigation. I am committed to advocating for my son and ensuring a safe learning environment for all students.
Sincerely,
(Parent).
The Talawanda School Board in Oxford, Ohio knows who this parent is, and they are in receipt of this letter above.
Principal Jason Merz was perhaps not present at school on Thursday, May 1, 2025, nor Friday May 2, of 2025. The district has not made any announcement on their website as to the reasoning for Jason Merz’s absence nor has Principal Jason Merz been placed on administrative leave. This district has only stated that Principal Jason Merz is “ill” and needs rest. Kramer Elementary school staff were told this explanation. Jason Merz is not “physically ill.” That is not the reason for his absence.
This parent, and an advocate of theirs, took this complaint to the Oxford Police Department on Wednesday night (4/30/25). One of the Oxford police officers allegedly told the parent that they were not going to file this report, because the parent did not like that police officer. The second police officer apparently also told the parent/mother that she obviously felt comfortable sending her child to that school. The parent reiterated that she told the district that she wanted her son to be switched from Kramer Elementary to Marshall Elementary because of a safety concern and it was a closer location to her employment.
The parent advocate also told the the Oxford Police Department during the report, that they had better call the school district and file the report because they were going to be contacting the district immediately themselves the next morning. One of the police officers was supposed to contact the parent and tell them that they filed the report (including the report number), but that did not happen as of the morning of 5/2/25. Ultimately, the report was obtained later in the afternoon by the filing parent, later on May 2, 2025.
See below:
It was after Spring Break in 2024 when the mother observed behavior in her son that was out of character. Before or around July of 2024, this parent sought behavioral therapy for her son from Butler Behavioral Health (a licensed Ohio Department of Mental Health, the Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services and CARF accredited center). Apparently, in these sessions, this parent’s son told the therapist and the mother what had occurred at the hands of Principal Jason Merz within Kramer Elementary.
Butler Behavioral Health Report (9/27/24):
“Client reported that in or around spring 2024 he was touched in his genital area by his principal in the school bathroom. Provider consulted with supervisor and it was determined that a CPS report should be made. CPS report was made on 9/19 and family was notified that report would be made.”
Butler Behavioral Health are mandated reporters. This would mean that the therapist of the child would be mandated to contact CPS and or the police (if not the district itself), to notify them of the complaint and report from the child, yet it’s unknown as to whether a report was ultimately filed from the therapist to the police, CPS, or the district.
Later that Summer, in 2024, when this parent attempted to have her son removed from Kramer Elementary school, and placed in another elementary school (Marshall Elementary School) in the district, after these therapy sessions, Superintendent Edward Theroux sent a denial letter in the mail to this parent, denying the request. Here is the letter below:
Superintendent Edward Theroux apparently denied knowing about the ‘change of school request’ in this email below on 5/2/25 (assuming he’s referring to the parent’s request to change schools), yet he acknowledged his knowing of the parental request in his denial-letter above on 9/14/24. Does that mean that Superintendent Edward Theroux is lying about knowing about the ‘change of school form’ filled out by the parent?
In December of 2024, this parent/mother met with Principal Jason Merz in regards to her son’s behavior in school, at the request of Principal Jason Merz. In this closed-door meting in Principal Jason Merz’s office, with no witnesses and no recording devices, the parent indicated to Principal Jason Merz that she knew what he had done to her child.
A menacing complaint was then made by Jason Merz to the Oxford Police Department after the meeting. The Oxford Police came to the home of the parent and told her to sign a statement to this complaint or be arrested. She was threatened with arrest, but signed the statement indicating that she had done nothing wrong.
This mother was then sent a “No Trespassing” letter by the district:
The parent/mother’s court date is set for this Summer of 2025. The prosecuting attorney (prosecuting the mother), and the mothers own defense attorney are both aware of the allegation of child abuse at the hands of Principal Jason Merz toward the mother’s son.
The court case above is the notification of the mother’s court date.
The form below is from Butler Behavioral Health. Clearly, this is an outstanding mother who loves her children.
Thank you for allowing me to talk with you about your family. After my visits with you, together we identified that your family has many strengths, including Good communication skills and highly motivated. As we discussed, your case with our agency will be closed at this time.
If you have any questions or if we can be of any help to your family at a future time, please call our office at (513) 887-4055.
Sincerely, Luke Melton, Caseworker. JULE DEIBLE, Supervisor.
There were also letters of support from the mother’s employer, and others, who know her and her family personally and professionally.
The first initial letter, above, written by this mother/parent and sent to the Talawanda school-board members the night of May 1st, 2025, has also been sent to a Title IX lawyer and investigator. A formal Title IX investigation will be taking place against Principal Jason Merz and potentially Superintendent Edward Theroux for their actions.
There may be more victims. All potential victims (parents/guardians, family members, staff members and students) are strongly encouraged to come forward immediately and file police reports with the Oxford Police Department, while also contacting the Butler County Prosecutor’s office and Child Protective Services.
Talawanda City School District Superintendent, Edward Theroux (right).
Edit and addition: As of this publication, the Talawanda School District in Oxford, Ohio has now made the following statement that they always make:
Now, Principal Jason Merz has been replaced for the rest of the school year by a current assistant administrator.
I fear this is not an isolated incident. I think these AHs all protect each other and whatever sick games they play - its been going on for a long time. Most have freemasonry connections - which means they protect each other. Child Protective Services is often a cover for human trafficking and sexual exploitations of minors. Unfortunately so are many of the child welfare type agencies. The moral folks that work at such places never imagine what some of their co-workers are involved in while others turn their heads so they can keep their jobs (in my opinion they are just as guilty). Ohio ranks high in child trafficking and sexual abuse of minors. Lots of reasons are given for this - but I think the system was set up over a century ago when a certain group of Sabbatian Frankest set up industry/operations there and established lodges.
I fear this is not an isolated incident. I think these AHs all protect each other and whatever sick games they play - its been going on for a long time. Most have freemasonry connections - which means they protect each other. Child Protective Services is often a cover for human trafficking and sexual exploitations of minors. Unfortunately so are many of the child welfare type agencies. The moral folks that work at such places never imagine what some of their co-workers are involved in while others turn their heads so they can keep their jobs (in my opinion they are just as guilty). Ohio ranks high in child trafficking and sexual abuse of minors. Lots of reasons are given for this - but I think the system was set up over a century ago when a certain group of Sabbatian Frankest set up industry/operations there and established lodges.