Indian Lake places superintendent on unpaid leave

The Indian Lake Board of Education has placed its superintendent -- who faces allegations of sexual misconduct -- on unpaid leave, according to a school press release.

Patrick O'Donnell was arrested on June 19 and was charged with gross sexual imposition as he is accused of inappropriately touching a 13-year-old girl, who is not a student in the district, over a three-year period. That charge has since been dropped, but authorities say they plan to the case to a grand jury next month and to try to get him indicted in common pleas court.

PREVIOUS REPORTING: Indian Lake superintendent on leave after arrest on sex charges

The school immediately moved to place O'Donnell on paid leave after he was arrested, but said they couldn't put him on unpaid leave right away for legal reason. The board met in a special meeting and went into executive session, the press release says, and returned to take a vote.

"Upon returning from executive session, the Board of Education passed a resolution for the purpose of moving Patrick O’Donnell to unpaid status, pending action to terminate," the press release states.

O’Donnell now has a chance to ask for a hearing and attempt to keep his job.

This news organization has reached out to O’Donnell’s attorney and will update this story with new information as it becomes available.