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Beaver superintendent says principal's leave has nothing to do with his religious beliefs

BEAVER, Pa. — There was a raucous reaction at a school board meeting in Beaver on Monday night after the superintendent announced she is gay.

RELATED: Beaver High School principal put on paid administrative leave

Steve Wellendorf, the principal of Beaver High School, was placed on administrative leave in August.

Details haven’t been released because it’s being treated as a personnel issue but, over the past few weeks, community members have said that Superintendent Carrie Rowe made the decision because Wellendorf is involved with a Christian group called Young Life.

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“We're aware of some of the misperceptions that are out there in the community and it’s difficult for us not to be able to share the details but what I can say for certain is that the school district doesn't discriminate. We don't discriminate for race, religion, gender, sexual orientation or any other protected class,” Rowe told Channel 11 Monday afternoon.

Some community members said the decision was made by Rowe because she is gay.

"I'm gay," Rowe said at Monday night's board meeting.

Her coming out divided the room. Some laughed, while others cheered.

Rowe said that she’s never addressed her personal life in the 19 years she’s been superintendent because it wasn’t relevant.

"What's happening to me is a form of bullying, plain and simple. These people are trying to bully me out of a job," Rowe said.

At the end of the meeting, there was no resolution among supporters of the superintendent and principal.

"I think that a lot of the Christian people here that are protesting just want her out of that position of power because she doesn't push the Christian agenda," said student Dominick Reagan.

Wellendorf was not at Monday night's meeting. It's not clear how long he will be on leave.

 

Cox Media Group

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