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The purpose of this letter is to provide you with information regarding the current status of District leadership.
As you may already know, the District was notified last week that Patrick O’Donnell, the District’s Superintendent/JFK Elementary School Principal, is under investigation by the Superior Police Department for alleged physical abuse of a student in the District. Reports indicate that the student was not injured.
At a special Governing Board meeting held on Friday night, January 23, 2015, the Governing Board temporarily reassigned Mr. O’Donnell to home with pay, pending the outcome of investigations to be conducted by the Police Department and the District. This action was designed to protect the interests of all concerned.
Effective January 26, 2015 and until further notice, Superior Jr/Sr High School Principal William (“Bill”) Duarte will be the District’s acting Administrator. Please contact Mr. Duarte if you need the type of assistance or support typically provided by the Superintendent. Mr. Duarte will continue to spend most of his time at the Jr/Sr High School, but will also spend time at the District office and at the Elementary School. Mr. Duarte’s assistant, April Juarez, will be able to locate him if he is not immediately available in his office. Ms. Juarez may be reached at (520) 689-3102 or via email at ajuarez@superiorusd.org. Mr. Duarte can be reached at (520) 689- 3102 or via email at bduarte@superiorusd.org.
I will be keeping in close touch with Mr. Duarte and other District and site personnel in the coming weeks. Our top priority is to keep the focus on teaching and learning.
Sincerely,
/s/ Cynthia Benson
Governing Board President
There are news or informational items frequently written by staff or submitted to the Copper Basin News, San Manuel Miner, Superior Sun, Pinal Nugget or Oracle Towne Crier for inclusion in our print or digital products. These items are not credited with an author.
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