East Rochester schools superintendent put on paid administrative leave

The superintendent of the East Rochester Union Free School has been placed on paid administrative leave by the district's Board of Education.

East Rochester Superintendent Mark Linton became the district's superintendent in 2015.

According to a letter sent on Monday to East Rochester families by school board president Jennifer Majewski Lesinski, the board named Richard Stutzman as acting superintendent. Stutzman previously served the district as interim superintendent for the district.

District spokeswoman Iva Petrosino confirmed the changeover in leadership on Monday afternoon but did not answer further questions about Linton's leave, including what date it started.

At a public session that lasted all of three minutes, the five-member East Rochester Board of Education voted unanimously Monday evening to place Linton on paid leave and name Stutzman as his interim replacement at a rate of pay of $650 a day. Linton's 2018 salary was about $166,000, according to the website See Through NY.

Both personnel actions will remain in effect "until further notice," according to the resolutions approved by the board.

Following those quick actions, the board adjourned into private executive session to review the employment history of an unnamed employee who presumably was Linton. Officials told reporters that board members did not intend to take any votes or make any public statements after the executive session ended.

Linton previously served as the principal at Geneseo Elementary School in Livingston County and was a special education teacher and school counselor in districts in Monroe, Livingston and Ontario counties.

According to the state Department of Education, approximately 960 students in kindergarten through 12th grade attend East Rochester schools.

Linton's leave is the second abrupt departure of a Monroe County superintendent in the past six months. In December, former Gates Chili Central School District Superintendent Kimberle Ward was put on leave until June 30, the date on which she had already announced her plan to retire. The district appointed Ward's successor last month but never addressed why Ward was removed so hastily.

Includes reporting by staff writer Steve Orr

VFREILE@Gannett.com