• Meet Our Team
  • Advertise on SCDN
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Contact Us
Tuesday, October 21
Scioto County Daily News
  • Login
  • Register
Subscribe For $1/week
  • Public Safety
    arrested man arrest

    Late-Night Break-In at South Webster Dollar General Leads to Arrest 

    police investigation

    Midnight Squatters, Condemned Homes, and a Community Fed Up: The Weekend Rundown on Abandoned Property Woes 

    Body Discovered on Kent Street — Coroner Called to Investigate 

    Troubled Bad Youth Kids

    Middle School Girl Reports Classmate for Harassment After “Rage Bullying” 

    SCDN File Photo

    Quick Thinking at SOMC Urgent Care Prevents Possible Danger on the Road 

    After 30 Child Welfare Checks, Deputies See the Real Problem

    Busted Arrests Portsmouth Scioto County Mugshots

    Busted! 10/20/25 New Arrests in Portsmouth, Ohio – Scioto County Mugshots

    Portsmouth Homeless

    Homeless Crisis Spills Into Alexandria House As Temps Drop 

    Grandparents Raises Alarm Over Kids Living in “Horrible Conditions” 

    Glenn Flory

    Flames & Felony: Walnut Street Blaze Ends in Arson Arrest 

    “Search Her!” — Why Police Said No During Mabert Road Dispute 

    Busted Arrests Portsmouth Scioto County Mugshots

    Busted! 10/17/25 New Arrests in Portsmouth, Ohio – Scioto County Mugshots

    Portsmouth Teacher Indicted

    Portsmouth Teacher Indicted on Sex Crimes Against Student: Read Full Indictment

    OSP and Fire

    Man Passed Out at Stop Sign Busted After Peeing in Creek 

    woman arrested handcuffs

    Woman Calls Police After Domestic Dispute — Ends Up in Jail Herself 

    ppd-315

    Police Probe Teen Threat After Girl Says She Wanted to “Stab” Boy 

    Ohio Police Identification Required

    Three-County Manhunt Underway for Missing Inmate Who Skipped Jail Furlough 

    Scioto County Grand Jury Indictments

    15 New Scioto County Grand Jury Indictments

    Busted Arrests Portsmouth Scioto County Mugshots

    Busted! 10/16/25 New Arrests in Portsmouth, Ohio – Scioto County Mugshots

    SCDN File Photo

    Busted on the Sheriff’s Doorstep: Domestic Violence Arrests on Findlay Street 

  • Lawrence County
  • Politics

    Democrats Blast Bryan Davis: “Quit Collecting a Paycheck You’re Not Earning” 

    Robert Horton

    Update in Robert Horton Corruption Case 

    Davis Commish

    No Updates, Just an Empty Seat: Powell and Smith Say Davis Drama is Out of Their Hands

    weird strange absurd

    Parking, Murals, and an Indicted Commissioner: Sparks Fly at Portsmouth City Manager’s Conference 

    Bryan Davis Due Back In Court October 21 

    Sean Dunne Next Mayor of Portsmouth?

    Dunne: “It’s Time for Portsmouth to Speak Up” on Davis Resignation 

    confused woman

    Portsmouth Council Weighs Asking Davis to Resign 

    Turning Point USA

    Student Democrats Deny Role in Petition to Ban Turning Point USA at SSU 

    Turning Point USA

    Portsmouth Politics Escalate: SSU Students Petition to Ban Turning Point USA

    Recorder Gary Jenkins

    Scioto County Recorder’s Office Increases Fees 

    Scottie Powell

    Commissioner Powell Responds to Conflict of Interest Questions 

    FOP Endorses Malone, Neff in Portsmouth City Election 

    Bryan Davis

    Where’s Bryan Davis? GOP Says Step Down — Court Says Suspended

    SCDN File Photo

    Where’s Bryan Davis? After Two Missed Meetings, GOP Says It’s Time to Step Down 

    This bench is a different bench located near Jim Dandy's

    Exclusive: The Bench Is Back — But the Political Drama Isn’t Over 

    crisis question

    Where’s Bryan Davis? Commissioners, Citizens Ask the Same Question 

    Scioto County Commissioner Bryan Davis

    Bryan Davis Arraignment Set, New Judge Assigned 

    Bryan Davis

    Why Commissioner Davis Staying in Office Raises Big Problems 

    Scottie Powell

    Powell Calls on Commissioner Davis to Resign 

    Scioto County Bryan Davis Scandal

    🗓 Timeline of a Scandal: How Scioto County’s Economic Development Crisis Unfolded 

  • Feel Good

    Honoring Scioto County’s First Town — and Its First People: New Heritage Trail Sign Dedicated at Earl Thomas Conley Park 

    A man approaching the bowling lane with a red bowling ball as his three friends in the background cheer him on.

    How Bowling Can Improve Your Mental Health

    A sleek blue sedan parked on concrete. Behind the vehicle is a view of the sky with a setting sun over a body of water.

    How To Make Your Daily Driver Feel Like a Sports Car

    A person's hand is holding a miniature wooden house with a green roof and a budding plant on top against a green background.

    How To Reduce Your Carbon Footprint at Home

    A man sitting in a vehicle is handing over an ID card to a female police officer standing by his window.

    Tips for Staying Calm During Police Encounters

    Cyn Mackley

    Cyn Mackley Channels Haunted Appalachia

    A group of friends stand around a table, smiling, laughing, and drinking. There are plates of food on the table.

    Creative Ways To Host Outdoor Events This Summer

    A family of two parents and a young boy and girl are playing laser tag with vests and laser blasters in an arena.

    What Activities To Offer at a Family Fun Center

    Shawnee State University SSU

    Shawnee State University Joins New Athletic Conference, Adds Football to Lineup 

    BREAKING: Commissioners Make Shocking Decision—Halloween to Remain on Halloween 

    Escape to the Hills: A Summer Reading List Set in Appalachia 

    Scioto County Champs: Lady Trojans and Word Wizards Bring Home the Gold 

    “I Held Those Keys Tight” — One Man’s Harrowing Journey from Addiction to Hope 

    Three girls in quinceañera dresses stand beside one another. The one in middle has a gold dress while the other two wear pink.

    Tips for Selecting the Color of a Quinceañera Dress

    The Day the Streak Ended: Lakers’ 1987 Record Broken

    An angler standing at the edge of a lake just after sunset with three fishing rods resting on the ground next to him.

    Night Fishing: Who Is It for and How Do You Start?

    good cops

    Cops Rescue Lost Man 

    good cops

    Kid Misses Bus, Deputy to the Rescue 

    A group of people stands outside with their arms in the air. They hold their hands together, making a pyramid shape.

    Hidden Gems: Community Strategies for Mental Wellness

    good cops

    Man Says He’s Trapped in Armory 

  • Obituaries
    Rikki Aaliyah Guilkey

    Rikki Aaliyah Guilkey, 29

    James Albert Elliott

    James Albert Elliott, 84 of Portsmouth

    Melissa Ellen (Manning) Dillon

     Melissa Ellen Manning Dillon, 87 of Portsmouth

    James S Bibbey

    James S. Bibbey 89 of Portsmouth

    minnie Sue Sines

    Minnie Sue Sines, 69 of West Portsmouth

    Charles M. Kelly

    Charles M. Kelly, 84, of Waverly

    Alicia Renee Harris

    Alicia Renee Harris, 44 of Waverly

    Alicia Renee Harris

    Alicia Renee Harris, 44, of Waverly

    Rosalie Meadows

    Rosalie Meadows, 61 of New Boston

    Richard Henderson

    Richard N. Henderson II, 82, of Waverly

    Robert Fraley

    Robert Luther Fraley, 89 of New Boston

    Jerod Von Hagen

    Jerod Von Hagen, 85 of Portsmouth

    Sally Joyce Reid, 90 of Tallahassee

    Walter Clark

    Walter Clark, 91, of Waverly

    Thelma Terry

    Thelma Isabelle Branham Terry, 91, of South Shore

    Ashley Nicole Lavey

    Ashley Nicole Lavey, 30 of Portsmouth

    Michael Van Swearingen

    Michael Van Swearingen, 89, of Portsmouth

    Donald H. Adkins

    Donald H. Adkins, 79 of South Shore,

    Suzi Bumgardner, 85 of Peebles

    Mary Lou Ratliff

    Mary Lou Ratliff, 90 of Portsmouth

  • More News
    • All News
    • Arts & Entertainment
    • Education
    • Economy
    • Food & Drinks
    • Local Business
    • National
    • Opinion
    • Regional
    • Strange But True
    • Trending
No Result
View All Result
Scioto County Daily News
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Register
Scioto County Daily News
No Result
View All Result

Dad Calls Out Bullying Culture at Valley

Part 1 of 2

Cyn Mackley by Cyn Mackley
6 years ago
in Education
Dad calls out bullying culture at Valley

Dad calls out bullying culture at Valley

ShareTweetEmail

Dad Calls Out Bullying Culture at Valley Middle School

A Valley Middle School Dad is fed up with what he sees as dangerous coaching practices at Valley Middle School and has decided to go public with his pleas for change.

Mark Smith, whose 12-year-old son played both football and basketball at Valley, says he tried taking his concerns to the coaching staff and to the Valley School Board. He says a school board member told him he’d get back to him after a meeting last week, but he was never contacted.

RELATED POSTS

Late-Night Break-In at South Webster Dollar General Leads to Arrest 

Body Discovered on Kent Street — Coroner Called to Investigate 

Quick Thinking at SOMC Urgent Care Prevents Possible Danger on the Road 

The root of his concern is a coach of the Valley Middle School football and basketball team. Smith says the coach is verbally abusive to his players. Kids are routinely cursed at and the coach has used terms like “Go—-ned R—rds” to refer to players.

Smith says, “You can’t just be negative, negative, negative … every game.”

He also says basic physical safety was ignored with players not being given the state-mandated water breaks during football practice.

His son was, allegedly, hospitalized for dehydration last fall after a practice and had to receive two bags of IV fluids.

Smith says after bringing a doctor’s note for his son and a copy of state regulations on water breaks, appropriate water breaks were finally implemented.

As a former high school coach himself, Smith says he hates to go public with complaints but he feels he was left with no choice. He fears the bullying culture is destroying the love of sports in children and hurting the sports program on a high school level as many potentially good players are just giving up.

He cites his own son, who recently quit the basketball team. Smith says he doesn’t usually allow his boy to give up, but in this case, he made an exception. He claims that when his son went to turn in his gear and speak to the coach, the coach laughed in his face.

Please Support This Local Business

“This is straight-up bullying. If it was a kid to a kid it would fall under the school’s bullying policy”

He says he’s not the only parent with concerns, but most aren’t willing to come forward. “Most parents more than happy to yell in the background from stands, but the majority won’t take action.”

Smith posted his frustrations publically on Facebook Sunday morning and by late Sunday afternoon, he finally heard back from a Valley School Board member who said they are looking into the matter.

Smith said, “At the end of the day you’re trying to mold these children into adults. When you run them down like this, eventually they will turn into the exact opposite of what you’re supposed to mold them into.”

I reached out to Valley Superintendent Scott Rolfe. His response had some very helpful information that you can click here to read.

Photo courtesy of Valley Local Schools Facebook Page

Bullying Valley Middle School

 

[gasbuddy_table]

Tags: ChildrenFamilyLucasvilleScioto CountySouthern Ohio
Please Support This Local Business

TRENDING NOW

Scioto County Grand Jury Indictments

15 New Scioto County Grand Jury Indictments

October 16, 2025
Busted Arrests Portsmouth Scioto County Mugshots

Busted! 10/17/25 New Arrests in Portsmouth, Ohio – Scioto County Mugshots

October 17, 2025
Busted Arrests Portsmouth Scioto County Mugshots

Busted! 10/15/25 New Arrests in Portsmouth, Ohio – Scioto County Mugshots

October 15, 2025
Portsmouth Teacher Indicted

Portsmouth Teacher Indicted on Sex Crimes Against Student: Read Full Indictment

October 17, 2025
Busted Arrests Portsmouth Scioto County Mugshots

Busted! 10/16/25 New Arrests in Portsmouth, Ohio – Scioto County Mugshots

October 16, 2025

ABOUT US

We are a grassroots team of local journalists on a mission to give our community up-to-the-second news and events for Southern Ohio, Northern Kentucky, and Western West Virginia. We believe progress inspires change and we believe our reporting has become the front-lines of Portsmouth, Ohio's comeback.

CATEGORIES

  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Casino
  • Economy
  • Education
  • Feel Good
  • Food & Drink
  • Local Business
  • National
  • Obituaries
  • Ohio
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Public Safety
  • Regional
  • Strange But True
  • Video

AREAS SERVED

  • Portsmouth
  • Wheelersburg
  • Minford
  • Waverly
  • Friendship
  • Ironton
  • West Union
  • Piketon
  • Coal Grove
  • South Point
  • Vanceburg
  • Grayson
  • South Shore
  • Greenup
  • Raceland
  • Ashland

SITE SEARCH

No Result
View All Result
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service

© 2025 Scioto County Daily News. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • Home
  • Trending
  • Public Safety
  • Lawrence County
  • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Feel Good
  • All News
  • About Us
    • Meet Our Team
    • FAQ
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise on SCDN
  • Legal
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Service

© 2025 Scioto County Daily News. All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • Home
  • Trending
  • Public Safety
  • Lawrence County
  • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Feel Good
  • All News
  • About Us
    • Meet Our Team
    • FAQ
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise on SCDN
  • Legal
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Service

© 2025 Scioto County Daily News. All Rights Reserved.