RAYMOND — School board members remained tight-lipped Wednesday night about their reasons for placing Superintendent Jeannie Richards on paid administrative leave earlier this month.

They also declined to offer any update on a $1 million civil lawsuit pending against the district regarding racial harassment at the high school in the 2010 to 2011 school year.

The lawsuit was filed in October 2011 by the parent of a 16-year-old former Raymond High School student after a Department of Education Office of Civil Rights investigation found the student had been racially harasssed.

The suit was filed against the school district, Richards, high school principal Kirk Beitler and assistant principal Jayme Rodriguez.

Both Beitler and Rodriguez are still working for the district.

During the public comment session of the board's Wednesday meeting, residents and former teachers were mixed on their response to the board's decision to place Richards on leave.

Resident Arlene French read a letter from resident Tom O'Neill stating that he is deeply concerned about the board's treatment of Richards in recent months.

“Your recent decision to suspend the superintendent simply goes too far,” O'Neill wrote in his letter.

He said there needs to be more transparency of the board's reasons for the suspension to show there are no personal vendettas being meted out.

French said the Office of Civil Rights report detailing the harassment that occurred at the high school, as well as the district's voluntary plan to address the situation, have been public for months.

“As far as I know, we are doing what we're supposed to do, there was a voluntary resolution, training for students and staff and an understanding that something was not right and it's being fixed,” French said.

The district is being monitored by the Office of Civil Rights through 2014 while instituting training and policies around racial harassment to help prevent future cases.

Another resident pointedly asked board chairman John Stewart the reasons for Richards' suspension.

“I have no comment at this point because we're still in negotiations … about the superintendent,” Stewart said.

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Gretyl Macalaster may be reached at gmacalaster@newstote.com.