MONROE - It's been 17 days since Monroe High School Principal Chris Medenwaldt placed Monroe Athletic Director Dave Hirsbrunner on paid administrative leave, and there are still more questions than answers about what prompted the action.
Monroe School District Business Manager Ron Olson said Medenwaldt, as Hirsbrunner's supervisor, made the decision to put Hirsbrunner on paid administrative leave Nov. 6.
Olson declined to say why Hirsbrunner was placed on administrative leave.
"It's a personnel matter," Olson said. "I can't say."
There are several types of leave in the district, including a leave of absence that is requested by employees and is required to be approved by the school board. Monroe School Board President Bob Erb said an administrative leave is requested by the district and doesn't require school board approval.
"The act of putting someone on administrative leave is not a process that goes through the school board," Erb said.
Erb said the paid leave is in accordance with Hirsbrunner's contract.
Hirsbrunner took over as the athletic director in 2010 after Kevin Keen, a Hall of Fame Monroe girls basketball coach, resigned from the position and as a teacher and coach in the spring of 2010. Hirsbrunner has served as the Monroe cross country coach and was the track coach for 16 years, including eight years with the boys and eight years with the girls. In addition to his job as athletic director, Hirsbrunner has been teaching at least one section of special education at the high school, including this semester, Olson said.
His wife, Cory Hirsbrunner, is the superintendent of the Monroe school district.
Erb was clear that Cory Hirsbrunner was not involved in the decision to place Dave Hirsbrunner on paid administrative leave.
"The answer to that would be none," Erb said of any involvement Cory Hirsbrunner had in the decision. "Any process like that is a direct conflict. It's no different than any supervisor with a direct family member."
Erb said the district's legal counsel, Godfrey & Kahn of Madison, advised the district not to comment on the administrative leave at this time.
During Hirsbrunner's paid administrative leave, Olson said Medenwaldt and high school staff are taking on the duties of athletic director, which include scheduling gyms, setting up the bus schedule for winter sports teams, enforcing the athletic code, attending high school sports events and ordering equipment.
Monroe School District Business Manager Ron Olson said Medenwaldt, as Hirsbrunner's supervisor, made the decision to put Hirsbrunner on paid administrative leave Nov. 6.
Olson declined to say why Hirsbrunner was placed on administrative leave.
"It's a personnel matter," Olson said. "I can't say."
There are several types of leave in the district, including a leave of absence that is requested by employees and is required to be approved by the school board. Monroe School Board President Bob Erb said an administrative leave is requested by the district and doesn't require school board approval.
"The act of putting someone on administrative leave is not a process that goes through the school board," Erb said.
Erb said the paid leave is in accordance with Hirsbrunner's contract.
Hirsbrunner took over as the athletic director in 2010 after Kevin Keen, a Hall of Fame Monroe girls basketball coach, resigned from the position and as a teacher and coach in the spring of 2010. Hirsbrunner has served as the Monroe cross country coach and was the track coach for 16 years, including eight years with the boys and eight years with the girls. In addition to his job as athletic director, Hirsbrunner has been teaching at least one section of special education at the high school, including this semester, Olson said.
His wife, Cory Hirsbrunner, is the superintendent of the Monroe school district.
Erb was clear that Cory Hirsbrunner was not involved in the decision to place Dave Hirsbrunner on paid administrative leave.
"The answer to that would be none," Erb said of any involvement Cory Hirsbrunner had in the decision. "Any process like that is a direct conflict. It's no different than any supervisor with a direct family member."
Erb said the district's legal counsel, Godfrey & Kahn of Madison, advised the district not to comment on the administrative leave at this time.
During Hirsbrunner's paid administrative leave, Olson said Medenwaldt and high school staff are taking on the duties of athletic director, which include scheduling gyms, setting up the bus schedule for winter sports teams, enforcing the athletic code, attending high school sports events and ordering equipment.