Allegation of ‘inappropriate conduct’ led to leave for Lexington high school principal, letter says

The principal of Paul Laurence Dunbar High School was placed on administrative leave with pay for up to 20 days following “an allegation of inappropriate conduct,” according to a letter from Fayette Superintendent Demetrus Liggins obtained by the Herald-Leader.

“The purpose of the leave with pay is to allow me the opportunity to investigate the facts involved in these allegations,” Liggins said in the November 2 letter to Dunbar Principal Bernard Marlon Ball.

The Herald-Leader obtained the letter through the Kentucky Open Records Act.

Ball is not allowed on Fayette school property under the terms of the paid leave without prior authorization of the superintendent, the letter said.

The alleged inappropriate conduct was not described in the letter.

The principal was placed on administrative leave Wednesday, district officials said in a statement. Without elaboration, the action against Ball was announced in a statement mourning the school’s athletic director Jason Howell, who died on Tuesday.

The cause of Howell’s death is being investigated as a suicide, Fayette County Coroner Gary Ginn told the Herald-Leader.

Dunbar teacher Sharessa Bentley-Crovo, a teacher and member of Dunbar’s school council, said after the district’s announcement that “We’ve all struggled under Mr. Ball’s leadership, and after losing a beloved colleague, we can’t stay quiet.“

Two parents on the school council, Melissa Rife and Brian Nurick, released a message Wednesday night saying, “As Parent Representatives of the PLD SBDM Council, we look forward to the District completing their investigation. We also look forward to sharing additional information regarding certain public comments made, when appropriate.”