Administrators in the Jefferson R-7 School District announced Wednesday (April 17) that Superintendent Clint Johnston is on a leave of absence, and Danby-Rush Tower Middle School principal Cindy Holdinghausen has assumed the duties of acting superintendent. The district made the announcement in a late afternoon email sent to district patrons.
Neither Johnston nor Holdinghausen could be reached for comment as of this morning (April 18).
Newly elected Board of Education president Wayne Surratt would not say whether Johnston was being paid during his leave.
“All the information the district is able to release on the matter at this time is in the memo Mrs. Holdinghausen sent out to students and families,” Surratt said.
“I recognize that many of you have questions about this change,” Holdinghausen said in the letter. “Please understand that neither I nor the Board of Education can share specific information about Mr. Johnston’s leave, due to privacy laws. However, I can assure you that there are no concerns related to the safety or wellbeing of any district student or employee.”
Johnston, who has been the R-7 superintendent since July 2010, participated in the Board of Education meeting held Tuesday, which was followed by a closed meeting, when at least one vote was taken, board secretary Lori Andrews said.
However, school officials would not say what the votes were about.
The Leader has submitted a Sunshine Law request for information about any vote that may have involved Johnston.