District staffer remains on administrative leave
By Marcus Clem
Limited information has been confirmed about the paid administrative leave of a St. Joseph School District staffer earlier this month.
News-Press NOW filed a Missouri Sunshine Law request about the case on Monday, seeking all records about the case. Until the name of the staffer and any allegations affecting them are confirmed, that name will not be reported. The district has said the administrative leave affects only one staffer at this time.
The district defines in Policy GCPD that paid administrative leave is an available action for any professional staff person who is accused of misconduct. The Board of Education is required to be briefed on the decision within 30 days, and to be updated at every meeting thereafter.
A hearing into the cause for paid administrative leave is required within 30 days of the decision being made, although this can be delayed for up to 180 days after the decision. Appropriate due process must be followed before an employee is placed on unpaid suspension, or terminated.
No arrests are known to have been made in the case. St. Joseph Police Department school resource officers, in the event of a leave period for alleged misconduct, may be charged with escorting that person off campus.
Statute establishes how the district is given three business days to respond to the Sunshine Law request, so input would be expected by Friday morning.
