BEATRICE – An elementary principal in the Beatrice Public School District has been placed on paid administrative leave while an investigation by an outside agency is conducted.

The action involves Stoddard and Lincoln Elementary Principal Kevin Janssen, who late last year submitted his resignation to the administration and school board, effective at the end of this school year.

Superintendent Jason Alexander said he could not comment on the agency involved nor the reason for placing Janssen on paid administrative leave.  Alexander said Missy Timmerman has been named acting administrator to supervise both Stoddard and Lincoln Elementary Schools in the meantime.   She has been the Coordinator of the Beatrice Community Preschool.  

Alexander said he, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Jackie Nielsen and Special Education Coordinator Beth Cordry-Hookstra will share duties in overseeing the preschool, for now.  

Teachers and administrators are back on duty during a professional development day on Wednesday, following the Christmas and New Year’s holiday break.   The first day of the second semester for students in kindergarten through twelfth grade is Thursday.   Preschool students return for the second half of the school year, on Monday.

Starting next fall, a new prekindergarten through fifth grade school in east Beatrice will replace the three separate elementary buildings and the separate preschool.