Board put Harrisonville superintendent on leave during 'difficult time,' district says
The Harrisonville school board placed Superintendent Frank Dahman on leave during a closed session Wednesday, according to an email sent to parents by a district spokeswoman.
"Due to the confidentiality of personnel issues, this is all we can tell you at this time," Jill Filer wrote in the email sent Friday afternoon to parents in the district.
"The Board of Education is focused on the district’s mission of achieving excellence in education and everything we do is centered on that mission. We appreciate your understanding, patience, and support as we work through this difficult time."
Days before the meeting, the school district had issued a notice that the school board would meet in closed session.
Reasons cited for closing the meeting included: legal action, causes of action or litigation; hiring, firing, disciplining or promoting particular employees; individually identifiable personnel records, performance ratings or records pertaining to employees or applicants for employment; and records protected from disclosure by law.
The district spokeswoman as well as the secretary to the superintendent and school board have not responded to The Star's requests for comment.
The Star reported Thursday night that Dahman had been placed on leave. School board member Chris Bell told The Star he could not release details about the nature of Dahman's leave.
Frank Dahman's son, Joe Dahman, was the subject of a Harrisonville police investigation into allegations of inappropriate contact between him and a student.
Joe Dahman had been a support staff member and coach at Harrisonville High School since 2015. He resigned last September after the allegations came to light.
Lt. Chris Osterberg previously told The Star he believed investigators had built a "solid case" that was turned over to the Jackson County Prosecutor's Office in December. No charges have been filed.
This story was originally published March 30, 2018 at 3:05 PM with the headline "Board put Harrisonville superintendent on leave during 'difficult time,' district says."