A popular principal at Ranchos Middle School in Madera was placed on administrative leave three weeks ago, and district officials have yet to offer a public explanation.
In the meantime, the community has rallied to support principal Shane Pinkard who was just starting his fourth year at the school, which moved into a new campus in August.
Supporters of the principal have placed posters on poles and fences near the Ranchos Middle School property on Road 36 and also by Liberty High School.
Signs urge support for Pinkard and call on district officials to "bring him home."
Pink ribbons -- pink for Pinkard -- also are attached to about a half-mile of fence across from the middle school.
Pinkard, 49, could not be reached to comment Monday.
Officials with Golden Valley Unified School District wouldn't say Monday why Pinkard was put on leave.
Sarah Koligian, Golden Valley's superintendent, did not return telephone calls. Instead she issued this statement through her assistant: "The matter involving Mr. Pinkard is a confidential personnel matter. The district has appointed an acting principal at Ranchos Middle School in Mr. Pinkard's absence. The district hopes to have the matter resolved soon."
Andy Alvarado, assistant superintendent of Golden Valley, has been filling in as acting principal.
He also would not discuss Pinkard's administrative leave and referred questions to Koligian.
Supporters said Pinkard's last day at work was Sept. 15.
Brian Reams, who has a seventh-grader at the school, said Pinkard is well-liked by students and their families, and they just want to know what happened.
"Three weeks is a long time to be on administrative leave without some notification of what is going on," said Reams.
Deidra Doyle, whose daughter attended the school last year and whose son also attended Ranchos, is upset that a principal who her family grew to know and respect was not working.
"I just really feel for him," she said.
Although unconfirmed, Doyle said the talk in the community is that Pinkard disagreed with district officials over the hiring of the school's new vice principal, which led to his administrative leave.
Doyle called Pinkard a good leader and credited him with earning a California Distinguished School award from the California Department of Education for Ranchos Middle last school year.
The award honors schools that have demonstrated educational excellence.
"I believe he has done a tremendous job," Doyle said. "I believe he is one of the strongest administrators in the district."
Golden Valley officials won't say when they will decide Pinkard's fate, although the board of trustees has a meeting planned for today.
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