Buena Park : Schools Superintendent Placed on Paid Leave
Richard F. Cochran, the superintendent of the Buena Park School District for the last two years, was placed on a paid administrative leave last month, but school officials gave no public explanation for the change in leadership.
Cochran could not be reached for comment Monday. Jack Townsend, who was the district’s assistant superintendent in charge of business services, said he was named acting superintendent by the board of trustees at their last meeting two weeks ago, but he said he could not say why the change was made.
The leave became effective May. 30.
Buena Park School District Board of Education President Elizabeth Swift also would not elaborate and would not discuss whether Cochran had been forced to take the leave, or if he chose it.
“I can’t discuss it,” Swift said. “All we have told district employees is that Dr. Cochran is on administrative leave and that Jack Townsend is acting superintendent.”
The district, with about 3,600 students, has been losing enrollment for several years.
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