Cape Central Middle School principal placed on administrative leave

Cape Girardeau Central Middle School's principal has been placed on administrative leave.

According to district superintendent Dr. Jim Welker, the reason for putting Mark Kiehne on leave is not available because personnel issues are confidential.

Welker said Wednesday that Kiehne is still under contract with the district and at this point there has been no further action other than placing him on leave. Assistant principal Rex Crosnoe is serving as interim principal.

Parents of middle schoolers were sent a letter last week informing them that Crosnoe would be assuming the responsibilities of the building principal and that Kiehne would no longer serve in that capacity, Welker said. The district is identifying someone to assist Crosnoe on an interim basis, Welker said, and it is possible that Crosnoe could be moved into the principal's position permanently.

Kiehne was hired as the school's principal in 2007. Before coming to Cape Girardeau, he was principal of the middle school in the Kelly School District and previously taught middle school math in the Jackson School District.

Several middle school parents contacted the Southeast Missourian on Thursday with opinions that the school district was being too secretive with the situation involving Kiehne's leave. Welker said he can assure that the situation involves nothing that would jeopardize students and said that he was unable to comment further other than to say that the district has faith in Crosnoe to run the building.

The Southeast Missourian was unable to reach Kiehne on Wednesday.

"I think there's a big problem here," said Katie Revis, parent of a middle school student. "The problem that I have is that they have our children in the school. They need to at least divulge not specific details but at least a general idea of what is going on. Because parents are speculating."

The parents of students at the school are owed an explanation, she said.

Crosnoe was hired as assistant principal the same year as Kiehne. They both began at the junior high in August 2007. Crosnoe was previously a teacher and baseball coach in the Jackson School District. Kiehne replaced principal Frank Ellis and Crosnoe replaced assistant principal Debbie Followell after the school board voted to replace them on the recommendation of then-superintendent Dr. David Scala.

eragan@semissourian.com

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