Late Tuesday afternoon Bellefontaine City Schools Superintendent Brad Hall addressed the sudden retirement of longtime BHS Band Director Jeremy Karg with staff members.
Superintendent Hall sent the following memo: “Late last school year concerns were raised that deposits regarding Band funds had not been made at all, in a timely manner, or with funds missing. Those concerns continued throughout the summer to the point where the district was unable to get the issues resolved with Mr. Karg. A meeting was scheduled in late August to meet with Mr. Karg to give him the opportunity to respond to those concerns. It was at that time that Mr. Karg made the decision to resign due to retirement prior to the meeting. The district has been working with the Bellefontaine Police Department and will continue to cooperate with their investigation. I have also submitted a report to the Ohio Department of Education’s Office of Professional Conduct. Due to your association with the Bellefontaine City School District, you may be asked to comment on this issue. Please refer all requests for official comments to me.”
Superintendent Hall made this official statement:
The Bellefontaine Police Department has reported that on Tuesday, August 29th Detectives Peterson & Salyer were called to the Bellefontaine Board of Education in regard to an internal theft.
The report then initiated an investigation.
This story will be updated as details are released.
Don’t
September 12, 2023 at 7:41 pmReserve judgment until all facts are presented
Legend
September 12, 2023 at 8:12 pmAgreed.
Me
September 12, 2023 at 8:20 pmHe is innocent before guilty. This type of news goes out and people automatically a**ume he is guilty. Let’s not forget( ethically) Brad Hall apologized to his staff for doing wrong. He was forgiven. You also have others that have been found guilty of stealing money, from other organizations and made a higher position for them. Everyone deserves another chance. Have a little sympathy.
Ashley
September 14, 2023 at 8:46 amI think many people forget how the bus director got in trouble for missing funds in softball years ago.
GYMMY
September 12, 2023 at 11:18 pmHe had gambling issues and used band funds to support habits! EOS
Concerned Citizen
September 13, 2023 at 1:18 amThose DraftKings and Fanduel losses were adding up and the man had to pay his credit card bills.
Friendly degenerate
September 13, 2023 at 10:43 amIf he would’ve taken browns moneyline last week like I told him he wouldn’t be in this mess.
DR
September 13, 2023 at 11:13 amLet’s not forget that this guy stole money donated for the band!? I really don’t think his gambling issues are a reasonable excuse for taking 25k… he knew it was wrong. Have fun in prison.. hopefully.
InnocentUntilProvenGuilty
September 14, 2023 at 12:28 pmHe is innocent until proven guilty. Mr. Karg is like a father to me as well as to other bandmates. He was my teacher from 7th grade-senior year at Indian Lake, and inspired me to do better.
KargForPrison
September 13, 2023 at 2:09 pmHopefully he has plenty of opportunities to show off his woodwind skills for the next several years in the Ohio Department of Corrections.
Al
September 13, 2023 at 5:08 pmYou people honestly think this white collar criminal will do time? You got the same faces on here every week walking the streets doin the same dumb s***.
Corkey
September 13, 2023 at 9:01 pmEveryone is against him I’ll put a little bit of money some people didn’t even have a penny in it they don’t say nothing about the teachers that make people cry because they can’t afford the more to do clothing will they make him cry cuz they’re sick but they try hard calm down and stupid what’s wrong with these people Mr Karg was good teacher my daughter took his cla** my granddaughter’s taking his cla** and they love him
Oh boy
September 14, 2023 at 1:17 amSo you’re justifying stealing? Got it
Corkey
September 14, 2023 at 1:51 amNo but I think you got to prove it not just a**ume it mr. KARG was good teacher
Ed
September 14, 2023 at 11:39 amYou actually got something out of all that?
Jailhouse Blews
September 14, 2023 at 5:55 amBubba’s gonna have a new jailhouse band leader. How about a variety show with his fellow inmates. They can do the script S-O-A-P.
Skinny Pete
September 14, 2023 at 9:50 amHe resigned suddenly because he’s innocent. LOL
wait
September 14, 2023 at 10:05 amView other drafts
People should not a**ume that Mr. Karg stole the money. The memo from Superintendent Hall states that concerns were raised about Band funds not being deposited in a timely manner, or with funds missing. However, it also states that Mr. Karg was given the opportunity to respond to those concerns before he resigned. It is possible that Mr. Karg had a legitimate explanation for the discrepancies in the Band funds.
The Bellefontaine Police Department is currently investigating the matter. It is important to wait until the investigation is complete before making any judgments.
It is also important to note that Mr. Karg is innocent until proven guilty. He has not been charged with any crime, and he has not had his day in court.
It is important to be respectful of Mr. Karg and his family during this difficult time.
Blue Parka
September 14, 2023 at 12:16 pmDo you think they would make a specific press release with these details If there wasn’t sufficient evidence he misused some of the money!? Common sense.
Wait
September 14, 2023 at 12:34 pmIt is possible that Bellefontaine City Schools would issue a press release with the specific details of the allegations against Jeremy Karg, even if there is not yet sufficient evidence of misuse of funds. This is because the district may want to be transparent with the community and avoid any rumors or speculation. Additionally, the district may want to encourage anyone else who has information about the situation to come forward.
However, it is also possible that the district will choose to withhold some details of the allegations until the investigation is complete. This is because they may not want to jeopardize the investigation or prejudice any potential legal proceedings. Additionally, they may want to protect the privacy of those involved.
Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to issue a press release with the specific details of the allegations is up to the Bellefontaine City School District. They will need to weigh the pros and cons of doing so and make the decision that they believe is best for the district and the community.
In the meantime, it is important to remember that Mr. Karg is presumed innocent until proven guilty. He has not been charged with any crime, and he has not had the opportunity to defend himself against the allegations.
Real
September 15, 2023 at 6:51 pmLets be real, the School would not say any of what they said if they were not convinced of wrongdoing. If he was innocent, the lawsuit would be huge for defamation. They said what they said because the evidence is clear. The fact that he is a gambling addict is well known. Again, the victims are the band members who did not have access to all the funds raised, and the folks who donated their hard earned money only to see some of those funds be used to offset gambling losses.
Wait
September 15, 2023 at 9:10 pmI hope the investigation is thorough and that the truth comes out. It’s important to hold people accountable for their actions, especially when it comes to misuse of public funds.
I’m sure this is a difficult time for the band program and for the community. I hope that the students and staff are able to get the support they need during this transition.
InnocentUntilProvenGuilty
September 14, 2023 at 12:29 pmThank you for saying this. I couldn’t of said it any better. He was a father to me. He walked me down the aisle on my wedding day.
Be real
September 14, 2023 at 12:22 pmAre you new here? This is peak and we are a trashy town. Little man is probably going to be conducting the guy pounding his drum if you catch my drift. He’s in with the community though so odds are nothing is going to come from this. Maybe a slap on the wrist at most.
InnocentUntilProvenGuilty
September 14, 2023 at 12:29 pmAre you new? He’s innocent until proven guilty.
Ed
September 14, 2023 at 10:44 pmYour comments certainly make a persuasive case for your premise.
Be Real
September 14, 2023 at 12:39 pmIn a court of law, not in a court of opinion. People smell blood in the water and they just a**ume guilt and tear at him and his legacy apart. Me? Personally? I don’t actually care, I have 0 stake. It’s just not every day you can make a band themed s***** joke on a public forum. (:
Ken
September 14, 2023 at 11:27 pmConcerns over deposits not made, or in a timely manner, and funds missing. Upon givin an opportunity to explain , he chose to resign/ retire ? Yes, he is innocent until proven guilty or innocent. It really makes no difference if he was like a father to you or anyone else, or how wonderful a teacher he is/was. Sometimes the situation you put yourself in will cause you to do things you shouldn’t an you will be held accountable for it. With that said let’s wait for the investigation to be completed and see where the chips fall.
Teresa
September 15, 2023 at 12:11 amMaybe learn to write a correct sentence. With periods. And why would you astrick on the word class??
Denise
September 15, 2023 at 12:21 pmOnly idiots would think punishment for this man would be from ‘ Big Bubba’ in prison. No one was r***d, murdered or violently harmed , so that punishment would not be just. Evidently these ignorant people think each prisoner gets a visit from Bubba . Hope these guys never go to prison for vehicular homicide caused by an accident because I guess Bubba doesn’t care why you’re there. There is a prison elimination r*** act, read up & educate yourselves. Further more, grow up……