LETHBRIDGE – Palliser Regional Schools superintendent Kevin Gietz is on another paid leave of absence.
In an emailed statement to media Wednesday, Palliser Board Chair Robert Strauss said: “Superintendent Kevin Gietz has commenced a paid leave, unassigned to duties, pending completion of the Organizational Review.”
It is Gietz’s second paid leave in just three months, but the first brought forward by the board.
Last January, Gietz requested an Organizational Review after allegations of a “culture of fear” and abusive behaviour were levelled against him.
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In May, he announced he was taking a temporary leave as the review process unfolded.
Dr. Garry Andrews, who served as Palliser superintendent from 2004 to 2007, was named acting superintendent.
Gietz returned to work, on his own volition, on July 4.
The board held its first meeting of the new school year on Tuesday.
During that meeting, a resolution was brought forward by an unnamed trustee to put Gietz back on leave.
That resolution was voted through and the leave went into effect immediately.
In a memo sent to Palliser staff, the board said it has requested approval from Alberta’s education minister to reinstate Andrews as acting superintendent.
The minister must approve the request before Andrews can resume the work.
Strauss hopes to get that approval within a few days.
Two independent contractors, Dr. Terence Weninger and Dr. Kelly Williams-Whitt, are conducting the review into Palliser’s practices.
It’s expected to be done by the end of October.