Urbana City School District Superintendent Charles Thiel announced that a staff member at Urbana Junior High has been criminally charged with multiple offenses and has been removed from her teaching duties.
According to the district, Ruthann (Rankin) Salsburey was charged yesterday morning. In response to the seriousness of the allegations, the district placed Salsburey on unpaid suspension while the investigatory process continues.
Superintendent Thiel stated that student and staff safety remains the district’s top priority.
“To ensure the safety of students and staff, the classroom and office space used by Ms. (Rankin) Salsburey were searched before students returned to school following the recent winter break. No items or materials were located that would be a cause for alarm.”
Salsburey has been employed by the Urbana City School District since 2022. District officials noted that there have been no prior reports of misconduct or questionable behavior involving her during her employment.
The district said it will continue to cooperate fully with law enforcement authorities as the investigation moves forward.
According to federal court records, Ruthann (Rankin) Salsburey was charged earlier this week in connection with an ongoing federal drug investigation in Bellefontaine. Her husband, 43-year-old Justin Salsburey, was arrested last week and is facing federal charges related to the alleged distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine.
Investigators say the case began in November 2025 after suspicious packages were reported, with court records indicating more than 260 packages were shipped to a Bellefontaine residence between August 2024 and December 2025. A search of the residence on December 30 allegedly uncovered pills testing positive for fentanyl, methamphetamine, and other suspected controlled substances.
Justin Salsburey remains in custody pending trial, while Ruthann (Rankin) Salsburey was charged on Monday and has not yet been assigned a future court date.
Urbana City Schools Board Member Taylor Armstrong stated that the Board learned of the situation through media reports and expressed confidence that district administration will follow established procedures and protocols regarding Ms. Salsburey’s employment status.
