SUNBURY — The Big Walnut Board of Education expressed sympathy for a student who was seriously injured in an accident during the homecoming parade last week.
According to reports, a Big Walnut student identified only as Kenny, 11, fell to the ground and was run over by a float. He was transported to Nationwide Children’s Hospital with life-threatening injuries. It was said he suffered facial bone fractures, a pelvis fracture, broken ribs, and a laceration to his liver.
An update on the GoFundMe page for “Kenny & Family” said on Oct. 3, “He came out of surgery tonight and did great! They officially closed his stomach and was able to take out the wound vac.”
More than 1,300 donors have raised $86,738 for the family as of 11 a.m. Wednesday. The goal was only $1,000. The GoFundMe page can be found at https://gofund.me/6e6b1c9d.
After the accident, Superintendent Ryan McLane left a voicemail for district families, asking them to send “positive vibes” to Kenny and his family as he recovers. McLane also said the district made counselors available to students if they needed it when classes resumed Monday.
While nothing publicly has been posted on the incident on the district’s social media pages, a couple school board members expressed their sympathy Tuesday on a stream of its most recent meeting.
“I would like to thank you, Mr. McLane, for all your updates and communication during this very tough weekend for this Sunbury and Big Walnut family,” board member Angela Graziosi said during the meeting. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Kenny. … It’s a tough time right now. Hopefully, we can all unite together as a community.”
“After a very challenging weekend for everybody, I want to thank you (McLane) for what you did. … Thanks to the administration for all their hard work,” said board member Alice Nicks.
“Our prayers do go to Kenny,” said board President Doug Crowl.
The school board held its meeting on Tuesday to go over policy. However, there were procedural questions. McLane said the board’s Ad Hoc Committee could present some of its options for 22 policies at the next meeting for first reading. The meeting lasted a little over an hour, mostly as an executive session.
The board’s next meeting will be held Oct. 20.
