DURANT, Iowa — A Wednesday afternoon walk through the heart of Durant’s business district revealed a community filled with concern and dismay.

Students and parents throughout this town of 1,700 say they want to know why Durant High School principal Monica Rouse was placed on administrative leave after being escorted from the high school building  last week.

 It’s a fact that Durant Community School District Superintendent Duane Bark confirmed Tuesday, but he and the Durant School Board remain tight lipped on the details.

Many area residents say Rouse has often proved she truly cares for students and they are baffled by the situation.

Walk away WednesdayDurant High School senior Zach Anfinson, his sister and stepsister, left school early Wednesday afternoon after another failed attempt at learning why the principal their family likes so well was placed on leave.

“They asked us, ‘Where are you going?’ and we said, ‘It’s a personnel problem,’” said Zach’s sister, Megan Anfinson, a junior. “That’s what they said to us (about Rouse’s exit).”

Zach Anfinson said Rouse defended him recently when he was told he couldn’t be on the football team because he missed three days of practice when he was ill.

“Mrs. Rouse took a stand against the coaches,” said Anfinson.

Megan, Zach and their stepsister, Stephanie Oetzel, a sophomore, said Rouse helped look after them when their parents took their 6-year-old sister, Gracie Oetzel, to New York for medical treatment in March.

Scott Oetzel, Stephanie’s father and the Anfinsons step-father, said he understands his children’s frustration.

“She puts students first and politics last,” said Scott Oetzel. “She cares about the students.”

Zach McDearmon, also a senior, said he walked out of school Wednesday with Anfinson to show his support for Rouse.

“She was the only one who gave me a chance to explain myself,” said McDearmon. “I have problems with anxiety and Mrs. Rouse listened to me.”

Zach Anfinson said approximately 50 students staged a sit-down protest at the school Tuesday afternoon to send a message to the school district administration.

Stephanie Oetzel and Megan Anfinson said Rouse lives in Durant and they and many of their classmates have visited her since she has been on leave.

“A lot of kids have gone over to visit and bring her cupcakes,” said Oetzel. “She is well loved.”

‘An amazing principal’When Chelsea Shellabarger, 22, of Durant first learned about Rouse, who is her former principal, she was visibly surprised. “She was an amazing principal,” said Shellabarger.

Shellabarger recalled the compassion Rouse showed when Shellabarger became pregnant in her junior year.

“She let me take three classes at Muscatine Community College so I could finish my junior year in one semester,” said Shellabarger. “My baby was due in the second semester, and that way, I could stay home the rest of the year.”

Shellabarger said she returned to school for her senior year in 2005.

“Mrs. Rouse was always so supportive,” she said.

Aaron Weaver, who attended Durant High School until his junior year in 2006 when his family moved to West Liberty, said he was sad to hear about Rouse’s situation.

Weaver, now of Wilton, had several conversations with Rouse when he was disciplined for acting up in class while attending Durant High School.

“She had a sense of humor,” said Weaver, 20.  “She was fair and her laugh and her smile was so nice.”

Parents weigh inSharon Heist, whose children graduated from Durant High School in  2000 and 2009, said she has good memories of Rouse from the years her children attended Durant High School.

“We had a positive experience,” said Heist. “Monica was very well-liked. My daughter loved having her as principal.”

Tina Snowbarger, whose  daughter is a sophomore at Durant High School, said she believes Rouse always  tries to do what’s right for the students.

“I also have a 21-year-old who graduated from Durant High School,” said Snowbarger. “And when he was there, she was always so positive.”

Details

The Durant Community School District sent a press release to media on Wednesday afternoon. Excerpts from that release follow:

“Members of the public have asked questions about the absence of Mrs. Rouse, who is currently on leave. The district understands why the community desires to know more about her leave, because issues involving school administrators are naturally matters of public concern,” the statement said.

It went on to say no other information could be released, because it involved a personnel matter. According to staff reports from the Quad-City Times, Bark did not say who is now serving as principal, and when contacted Wednesday morning by phone, Rouse said she needed to talk to her lawyer before publicly commenting on the matter because of possible litigation.

Durant Community School District officials who were contacted offered the following comments:

Dick Stoltenberg, Durant School Board President:

Stoltenberg said he could not comment because of confidentiality issues. Stoltenberg would not comment specifically on whether the board has taken any action on the situation involving Rouse.

The Journal called and left messages for all the school board members Wednesday morning and there were no responses by press time this morning.