Wednesday, June 16, 2021 • Vol. 15 No. 3 • FREE
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Community News from Middlefield, Parkman, Huntsburg and Surrounding Areas
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Middlef ield Cardinal Schools
Coach Under Investigation for Reportedly Changing Student Grades Gresko Had ‘Incentive or Motive’ to Improve Job Performance By Ann Wishart ann@geaugamapleleaf.com
The head football coach at Cardinal High School is under criminal investigation for allegedly tampering with the grades of students in other teachers’ classes. About a dozen visitors spoke up at the June 9 Cardinal Schools Board of Education meeting — some in tears — in support of George Gresko, who, under an annual supplemental contract, has been head football coach at Cardinal for two years, as well as a success coach/ alternative learning supervisor.
Cardinal Schools Superintendent Bill Kermavner was silent during the meeting, but in a June 11 email, he said Gresko is currently under investigation by the district and Middlefield Police Department. “Mr. Gresko has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. Due to the ongoing investigation, the district is unable to comment any further at this time,” he said. On Monday, in response to an additional request for information, Kermavner said an “improvement plan” had been put in place earlier this year related to Gresko’s job per-
formance. He acknowledged Gresko had an “incentive or motive” to improve students’ academic performance. Middlefield Village Police Chief Joe Tucholski said during two phone interviews the school district asked the department March 17 to investigate a “teacher that was changing grades in other teachers’ classes.” Tucholski said the case was assigned to Detective Steve Boxler. About a month ago, Gresko’s laptop and cell phone were taken into evidence, he said, adding the case was turned over to Geauga
FILE PHOTO
Coach George Gresko
County Prosecutor Jim Flaiz about two weeks ago. Tucholski said he understands there will be a hearing by the Cardinal Schools Board of Education. See Coach • Page 6
Three Perish in Huntsburg House Fire Fire Originated in First-Floor Room By Ann Wishart ann@geaugamapleleaf.com
Three people died in a house fire June 5 on Clay Street north of Chardon Windsor Road in Huntsburg Township, according to Middlefield Fire Department Lt. Ben Reed. Reed said the station received a call at 7:10 a.m. from the Geauga County Sheriff’s Office dispatcher about a house fire and residents were reported to be inside. When fire trucks arrived, the fire was fully involved, Reed said. A teenager and his parents, Harvey and Becky Weaver, escaped from the house. The parents’ daughter, Jordan, 20, a Cardinal High School graduate; son, Joshua, 16, a sophomore at Cardinal High School; and future son-in-law, Mitchell Sotera, 20, a Kenston graduate, died in the fire. Reed told the Geauga County Maple Leaf the fire originated in the first-floor family room of the split-level home. It is unknown whether there were any working fire detectors in the home. “The families are holding it to-
ANN WICHART/KMG
A fire on Chardon Windsor Road in Huntsburg Township June 5 claimed the lives of three people.
gether as best they can,” Reed said June 14. “This is a pretty tough situation for everyone.” Fire departments from all over Geauga County and from Windsor Township responded to the blaze, Reed said, adding he believes the
state fire marshal will be issuing a report shortly. Becky’s cousin, Laurie Evans, started a GoFundMe site in support of the Weaver family and shared her thoughts about Jordan, Joshua and Sotera.
“Joshua (was in the) Cardinal STARS Program,” Evans said. “He loved hunting with his dad, he loved to sing and put on shows for everybody wearing a cowboy hat and playing a guitar, making up songs See Fire • Page 7
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