Cape superintendent Scala placed on administrative leave

See Superintendent Scala's contract

Cape Girardeau School District superintendent Dr. David Scala has been placed on administrative leave effective today and his contract will be terminated Dec. 19, the board of education voted in a late-night closed session Monday.

Board president Dr. Steven Trautwein said he couldn't go into details about the board's reasoning, saying the decision was "to the advantage of the district and to Dr. Scala."

Scala said that there is a provision in his contract that allows for no reason being required for termination.

Assistant superintendent Pat Fanger will take over until an interim superintendent is found. Trautwein said interim superintendents typically are retired former superintendents, but emphasized the district is not specifically looking for such a person.

Scala announced at a board meeting Oct. 15 that he would retire at the end of the year. Board members voted at a Nov. 5 meeting to hire the Missouri School Board Association to help the board conduct a search for a new superintendent.

Check back for updates or read tomorrow's Southeast Missourian.