Mark Lowe
Issue ‘is not about banana email’
By SUE SUCHYTA
Sunday Times Newspapers
ALLEN PARK – Allen Park Middle School Principal Mark Lowe was placed on paid administrative leave pending internal investigation results, Supt. Michael Darga said in an April 11 letter to parents.
Lowe already had initiated a voluntary leave of absence prior to Darga’s decision.
While Darga’s letter was quick to assure parents that the allegations in no way involve students, he reiterated that there were multiple formal complaints made against Lowe in February which Darga described as “significant, serious and extensive,” and said the confidential complaints will be taken seriously, and will be investigated “objectively and comprehensively,” and with respect for due process.
Darga said District Compliance Officers are still investigating and working with the district’s attorneys, and have not made any recommendations yet to Darga or the school board.
“Once the investigation is complete, the final responsibility to act, either dismissing the allegations as meritless, or accepting their merit and imposing appropriate discipline, rests with the Board of Education and the Superintendent,” Darga said in the letter.
Darga acknowledged the flood of rumors and inaccurate information on social media and other speculation, and reiterated that Lowe’s Feb. 5 unintentional “banana” innuendo image sent to staff via email was not part of the investigation.
Darga said when circumstances involve personnel matters, information about the nature of the complaints cannot be shared, and he apologized for the current ambiguity of the situation.
“While this may be frustrating for parents, students and staff, I am sure that you can understand the confidential, sensitive and often complex nature of any personnel issue,” Darga said.
He said John Tafelski, director of curriculum, would work with APMS Assistant Principal Bruce Andrews to help meet day-to-day student needs, and said Tafelski is an experienced administrator and building principal.
(Sue Suchyta can be reached at [email protected].)