Confusion and anger after Raymond principal walked out of school and put on leave

RAYMOND, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Many parents in the Village of Raymond in Racine County are concerned and frustrated after a beloved principal was put on administrative leave Thursday, Sept. 28.

The School Board says it will investigate Principal Jeff Peterson's conduct, but his supporters allege it's a witch hunt.

The saga has sparked a firestorm in Raymond. Peterson's supporters say the board has lacked transparency and oversight for months, and now they're targeting a principal supporters say has done nothing wrong.

Shannon Demski-Sommers is the parent of a sixth-grader. She said Peterson "is the heart and soul of this school."

There was more frustration, anger, and confusion in the Village of Raymond as a months-long effort to oust Peterson took a major step forward Thursday.

Several people told us Peterson was walked out of the school in front of students and staff.

Demski-Sommers said, "The kids, I know, as my daughter was saying, are talking. It's upsetting to them. They're on soft lockdown. Their minds are going crazy because this is a man they adore and look up to."

Superintendent Michael Garvey shared a statement from the School Board that said the leave is "to allow the district's administration, through a third party, to investigate concerns about the principal's conduct."

But Garvey stopped responding when we pressed him about what those concerns were.

Demski-Sommers is one of many people -political conservatives and progressives alike- who support Peterson. She said, "Nobody understands what's going on. They're going, 'Conduct?' Even me and my husband are scratching our heads. We're like, Conduct? What conduct?'"

No one answered when we knocked on School Board President Audrey Kostuch's door to ask questions.

None of the Board members responded to emailed requests for comment.

In announcing the vote Wednesday, Kostuch said, "This decision does not mean that Mr. Peterson's employment is terminated."

But Peterson was put on leave the very next day.

For now, with Principal Peterson out of the building, the board said "the rest of the district's leadership team will assume the principal’s responsibilities with assistance from key instructional leaders."

The state's Department of Public Instruction is not getting involved, despite widespread complaints about the Board and Superintendent Garvey.

The DPI said the Board's and Garvey's conduct does not reach criminal or immoral standards for revoking a teaching license, and "The DPI cannot enforce outcomes short of revocation, such as a suspension or reprimand."

From the DPI's message to families that called for an investigation:

Some of the allegations in your communication do not involve conduct that endangers a pupil. With regard to the allegations that at least indirectly involve pupils, the DPI must consider at the outset whether the alleged conduct could and should result in the revocation of a teaching license, and whether the DPI would be able to defend that decision in front of a judge. The DPI cannot enforce outcomes short of revocation, such as a suspension or reprimand. The only question the DPI can consider regarding an educator misconduct investigation is whether to initiate a process that would lead to termination of an educator’s career.

We continue to receive new tips on this story each day and will continue to update it when we get new information.