By Kathy Wray Coleman, editor-in-Chief, Cleveland Urban News. Com and The Kathy Wray Coleman Online News Blog.Com, Ohio's Most Read Online Digital Black Newspaper and Newspaper Blog. Tel: (216) 659-0473. Email: editor@clevelandurbannews.com
Kathy Wray Coleman is a community activist, legal and political reporter, and a 22- year investigative journalist who trained for 17 years at the Call and Post Newspaper in Cleveland, Ohio. (www.clevelandurbannews.com) / (www.kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com
CLEVELAND, Ohio- Longtime Cleveland schools athletic director Leonard Jackson (pictured) has been placed on administrative leave with pay pending the outcome of criminal charges filed last week by the city of Euclid, Ohio of assault, menacing and disorderly conduct.
An arrest warrant was issued Friday, police said, though Jackson did surrender, and posted bond.
Jackson, who is Black, stands roughly 6'4", and is stocky, to say the least, has denied the allegations.
Cleveland schools officials have not commented publicly on the controversial ordeal.
Also an executive board member of the Cleveland NAACP and a retired school district athletic director who returned to the job that now pays $100,000 annually, Jackson is accused of attacking Vito Federici, a former teacher and assistant coach for the East Technical High School boys basketball team who was fired from his teaching job last year. The incident occurred on March 12 at a basketball tournament at Euclid High School, and was allegedly caught on video.
According to a police report, Jackson allegedly called Federici a trouble maker and pinned him against a locker, releasing him allegedly after a call by Federici for help from bystanders.
Federici has said that the incident followed years of tensions between the two and retaliation for reporting alleged violations of Ohio High School Athletic Association rules by some Cleveland schools. He claims also that Jackson has been stalking him.
Jackson is politically connected and is married to Micheline Jackson, a retired Cleveland schools principal. The couple has two grown daughters. Their million dollar mansion in Pepper Pike, Ohio is up for sale, data show.
Per state law the Cleveland Municipal School District is controlled by the city mayor, which is currently three-term Black mayor Frank Jackson, who is no relation to Leonatd Jackson, and who appoints members of the once elected Cleveland Board of Education.(www.clevelandurbannews.com) / (www.kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com
