The district is remaining tight-lipped about the details surrounding two top administrators being placed on leave. Here's what we do know. Emma Kate Fittes/IndyStar
CARMEL, Ind. — Two top Carmel Clay administrators have been on paid leave for more than two months — an unusually long amount of time according to a local employment attorney.
Superintendent Nicholas Wahl and Human Resources Director Corrine Middleton were put on leave in October pending a school board review of district administration. Since then five public board meetings and four executive sessions related to "job performance" have passed without any public update.
Meanwhile, Wahl and Middleton continue to receive their six-figure salaries.
Paid leave typically lasts a few days or a couple weeks, said local employment attorney Stephanie Jane Hahn.
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"Typically, employers that engage in investigations of employees or employee misconduct, in particular, those employers that have put employees on a paid administrative leave, want to move as quickly and efficiently as possible," she said told IndyStar in an email Thursday. "In my experience, investigations can take one to two days or several weeks."
Hahn isn't privy to the situation in Carmel specifically but talked about paid administrative leave in general.
"Many times the lengthier investigations involve multiple workplaces and individuals," she said. "Or they involve multiple complaints made by multiple people ... that need to be sorted out."
When asked if the review now involved any other employees or administrators, Carmel Clay referred IndyStar back to the board's original statement in October, which said Wahl was on leave and no further comment would be given until the review is complete.
Spokeswoman Courtney Taylor said Thursday the review is still ongoing, but "nearing completion." There is no set date for completion, she said. A decision likely won't come until January because the board doesn't have another public meeting scheduled for December.
The extended timeline caused one community member, Eric Morris, to question whether the district has too many administrators because it has continued to function while missing two key roles. He addressed the board during the Dec. 11 meeting. The district declined to respond to his comments.
Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum Amy Dudley and Associate Superintendent for Business Affairs Roger McMichael are serving as interim superintendents. They are not receiving any stipend or additional pay, the district confirmed.
Police have never been involved in the review, Taylor said. Carmel Police spokesman Lt. Joe Bickel confirmed Thursday his department has not been involved.
Multiple sources who asked to speak under anonymity for fear of retribution told IndyStar that Wahl, 52, and Middleton, 48, were involved in a romantic relationship.
Both filed for divorce this year. Wahl filed in Boone County in May. Middleton filed in Hamilton County on Aug. 28. Both cases are pending.
Back in October, the district confirmed the review did not involve any students. Board President Layla Spanenberg also told IndyStar the relationship between Wahl and Middleton was part of the review.
"It's part of the review," she said at the time. "We have policies, and we have contracts and so whatever we have stated within policy or contracts is the standard within which we hold all of our employees."
Middleton was hired after Wahl, as assistant HR director in October 2015. She was promoted to HR director in July 2016. Middleton was paid $113,118 in 2016, according to Gateway, the state's online reporting system for government units.
Wahl came to the district from Illinois in 2013. This year his salary is $209,000, according to his most recent contract amendment. The district also provides free gas and a "vehicle allowance" of $700 per month.
Call IndyStar reporter Emma Kate Fittes at (317) 513-7854. Follow her on Twitter: @IndyEmmaKate.
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