SOLON, Ohio — Solon High School Principal Erin Short said a fake email with false allegations about her is the reason she was placed on paid administrative leave last month.
In a statement sent to parents, Short claims a person created a fake email address, using a fake name to falsely accuse her of inappropriate conduct.
Short said she has been working with police to help them complete their investigation against her.
She was placed on paid administrative leave on Feb. 15.
In a statement provided by her attorney, she said she has been "completely forthcoming and cooperative with both the Solon Board of Education and law enforcement." She said she "unequivocally and categorically" denies "the false and defamatory allegation" made against her, and will pursue damages as a result of the allegation.
Assistant Principal Erica Kosiorek has been serving as acting principal for the time being.
The district confirmed Short has been employed by Solon Schools since June 2000 and has been a principal since Aug. 1, 2010.
In a letter to parents, Short released the following statement:
AS THE COMMUNITY IS NOW AWARE, ON FEBRUARY 14, 2021, A FRAUDULENT E-MAIL WAS SENT TO MEMBERS OF THE SOLON BOARD OF EDUCATION. THE SENDER OF THIS E-MAIL CREATED A FICTITIOUS E-MAIL ACCOUNT BY USING A FALSE NAME IN ORDER TO FALSELY ACCUSE ME OF INAPPROPRIATE CONDUCT. IT IS AN UNFORTUNATE SIGN OF THE TIMES THAT ANYONE CAN HIDE BEHIND A COMPUTER, CREATE A FAKE E-MAIL ACCOUNT, AND DEFAME ANYONE OF THEIR CHOOSING WITH A FEW KEY STROKES.
THE CONTENTS OF THIS E-MAIL ARE 100% FALSE. AS I HAVE STATED BEFORE, I UNEQUIVOCALLY AND CATEGORICALLY DENY THE FALSE AND DEFAMATORY ALLEGATION CONTAINED IN THE E-MAIL. FROM THE MOMENT THAT I BECAME AWARE OF THE EXISTENCE OF THIS E-MAIL, I HAVE BEEN ENTIRELY TRUTHFUL, FORTHCOMING AND COOPERATIVE WITH THE SOLON BOARD OF EDUCATION AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AND I WILL CONTINUE TO COOPERATE UNTIL MY NAME AND REPUTATION ARE CLEARED. I AM CONFIDENT THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT IS CONDUCTING A COMPLETE AND THOROUGH INVESTIGATION AND THAT THIS INVESTIGATION WILL CONCLUDE IN MY FAVOR IN SHORT ORDER.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THE CONCLUSION OF THIS INVESTIGATION SO THAT I CAN RETURN TO MY POSITION AS PRINCIPAL OF SOLON HIGH SCHOOL.
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