Prineville principal’s supporters pack school board meeting

More than 100 people attended a Crook County School Board meeting Monday evening to praise and defend Crooked River Elementary School Principal Cheri Rasmussen, who remains off the job and on paid leave.

The school district is holding an internal review of Rasmussen, and many parents, employees and former students spoke at the meeting, urging that she be allowed to return to work.

Last month, Rasmussen was placed on paid leave after a report of alleged harassment involving interaction with a first-grade student.

The district attorney’s office reviewed police reports about the incident, and DA Daina Vitolins declined to file any criminal charges, but Rasmussen remains on leave while the school investigates whether she violated any school district policies.

“There is state and federal laws about how an administrator has to conduct themselves and there are board policies,” said said school board Chair Doug Smith. “We don’t know at this point until the investigation is done, what has been violated and what hasn’t.”

The board accepted plenty of public comment about Rasmussen, but declined to discuss the ongoing personnel matter.

A big question for many is how long it will take to complete the investigation, but the board had no answers to share.

“The kids adore her,” said LaDele Harris, a parent at the school. “They know they have to mind, but they adore her. And when they get rewarded with lunch with her, it makes their whole month.”

Many of the parents who spoke praised Rasmussen’s effect on their children, her teaching history, and how her education style has changed the school.

“My fifth-grader and my second-grader said, ‘Dad, where’s Mrs. Rasmussen?’ And I said, ‘You know, right now I cannot tell you where she is,'” said parent Troy Barrettl. “They want to know, and they want their principal back.”

Rasmussen has been the elementary school principal since 2007 and with the district since 1998.

“She actually cares about the moral character of the kids, not just are they getting their education,” said another parent, Jessica Lay. “She cares about them when they grow up, so that means a lot to me as a parent.”

Everyone who spoke said they hope the matter is resolved quickly and she is back in her office soon. The school board did not make any decisions, but Superintendent Duane Yecha said they hope to have the matter resolved as quickly as possible..