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RTR Superintendent Houck placed on administrative leave

MARSHALL – Russell-Tyler-Ruthton Superintendent Bruce Houck has been placed on administrative leave, confirmed school board chair Jeff Hansen, who declined to comment further on the matter. The announcement comes after the RTR board’s regular meeting Monday night, which included a nearly an hour-and-a-half long closed session.

No explanation about the nearly hour-and-a-half long closed session was given to the large crowd attending the meeting. When the board returned, it unanimously approved the hiring of interim superintendent Dick Orcutt and quickly moved onto other business.

Rumors about Houck’s future with the school started circulating last week after a school administrator was walked out of the high school in Tyler by police. No identification was given of who the individual was, but Tyler Police Chief John Spindler was able to confirm that “the police department was asked to assist in escorting a person from the property.”

It was unclear if charges had been filed against the person or why the escort was necessary.

The Independent was unable to reach Houck for comment at his office Thursday, and his staff declined to comment on the matter.

Monday night’s closed session concerned “preliminary consideration of allegations against (an) individual,” according to the meeting’s agenda. Hansen said before entering the closed session that the concerns “related to Mr. Houck.”

Houck shared his superintendent title with Hendricks and Lynd schools through the controversial Southwest Education Cooperative (SWEC) Joint Powers Agreement established last year. The administrative shake-up comes just weeks after the RTR board voted to withdraw from SWEC.

School officials from both Hendricks and Lynd declined to comment on the situation and Houck’s employment status at their schools.

Orcutt has held various superintendent positions in the past including interim positions at Yellow Medicine East and Ivanhoe.

RTR Superintendent Houck placed on administrative leave

MARSHALL – Russell-Tyler-Ruthton Superintendent Bruce Houck has been placed on administrative leave, confirmed school board chair Jeff Hansen, who declined to comment further on the matter. The announcement comes after the RTR board’s regular meeting Monday night, which included a nearly an hour-and-a-half long closed session.

No explanation about the nearly hour-and-a-half long closed session was given to the large crowd attending the meeting. When the board returned, it unanimously approved the hiring of interim superintendent Dick Orcutt and quickly moved onto other business.

Rumors about Houck’s future with the school started circulating last week after a school administrator was walked out of the high school in Tyler by police. No identification was given of who the individual was, but Tyler Police Chief John Spindler was able to confirm that “the police department was asked to assist in escorting a person from the property.”

It was unclear if charges had been filed against the person or why the escort was necessary.

The Independent was unable to reach Houck for comment at his office Thursday, and his staff declined to comment on the matter.

Monday night’s closed session concerned “preliminary consideration of allegations against (an) individual,” according to the meeting’s agenda. Hansen said before entering the closed session that the concerns “relates to Mr. Houck.”

Houck shared his superintendent title with Hendricks and Lynd schools through the controversial Southwest Education Cooperative (SWEC) Joint Powers Agreement established last year. The administrative shake-up comes just weeks after the RTR board voted to withdraw from SWEC.

School officials from both Hendricks and Lynd declined to comment on the situation and Houck’s employment status at their schools.

Orcutt has held various superintendent positions in the past including interim positions at Yellow Medicine East and Ivanhoe.

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