DURANT, Iowa — Durant High School Principal Monica Rouse says she doesn’t know why she was placed on administrative leave on Sept. 17, but she has no intention of walking away.

On Thursday, Rouse said she has hired a team of attorneys to assist her in responding to the Durant Community School District’s actions and intends to meet with them before Saturday. 

Rouse said Superintendent Duane Bark told her she was being placed on administrative leave around 2:30 p.m. Sept. 17 for what he described as “improper conduct.”

“I am confident that I did not intentionally, maliciously or purposefully do anything to compromise my employment with the District,” Rouse said Thursday afternoon. “I’m going to file whatever I need to file and fight whatever I need to fight. I’m not going to resign.”

Bark was contacted by the Muscatine Journal Thursday afternoon, but he did return the call by press time.

Rouse said Bark told her he was supposed to escort her out of the school, however, when she left, she said he did not accompany her.

“He told his secretary to watch me leave instead,” said Rouse. “I felt bad she was put in that situation. I walked out of the building by myself.”

Rouse, 44, who is originally from Rock Falls, Ill., became principal in Durant in the 1999-2000 school year.

She taught for three years at

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Tipton Middle School before coming to Durant.

According to an article in the Durant/Wilton Advocate, Bark taught and coached at Durant from 1986-1989 and returned to the District as superintendent in the 2006-07 school year.

Rouse said she hopes to stay in Durant.

“My husband and I just bought a home here in June,” she said. “I feel safe here and the kids feel safe.”

Rouse’s husband, Tim Rouse, began teaching industrial arts at Durant High School six years ago and the couple have two children who attend Durant Middle School.

 Rouse said many students and adults have come by her home to offer support since she was placed on leave.

Rouse said she suspects her situation is the symptom of what she described as a larger problem within the district.

“I’m not the kind of person who is real political in terms of playing both sides of the fence,” said Rouse. “I don’t always say the things people want to hear. Maybe that’s one of the reasons I’m in this situation.”

Rouse does not want to go public with what she suspects may be at the root of her being placed on administrative leave until  her attorneys have discussed her case and decided how it will be presented.

“I have an attorney team reviewing my documentation, and they will be moving quickly,” said Rouse. “My hope is that when all this is said and done, the community of Durant and the school district will fully realize the nature of the person who is leading the District.”