Kansas school superintendent Bradley Marcotte allegedly drove a school bus carrying students after drinking alcohol on school grounds, his district’s board of education says.
Paul Dorathy, interim superintendent for Lyndon, USD 421, provided The Capital-Journal Monday afternoon with a copy of a resolution sharing that information, which USD 421’s board approved on Oct. 20 and announced its intention to terminate Marcotte’s contract . The newspaper had requested the copy earlier on Monday.
“On or about October 18, 2024, Mr. Marcotte operated a school bus with students on it after consuming alcohol in his possession on school property in violation of Board Policy-GAOA-R of USD421,” the resolution said. “Based on these actions, he was arrested for child endangerment and interfering with a law enforcement officer.”
$421 was “still pending” with Marcotte regarding his employment status on Monday, Dorathy said.
No information was released about what type of alcohol Marcotte consumed, or how much. The USD 421 resolution approved by board members will be the district’s “only public comment,” Dorathy said.
A Kansas school superintendent allegedly drove a school bus carrying students after drinking alcohol, the district’s board of education says.
Resolution: Marcotte is engaged in dereliction of duty, intemperance
Marcotte is deemed guilty of acts that materially impaired his ability or effectiveness to perform his duties, including intemperance, unprofessional conduct, neglect of duty and a general neglect of the affairs of the district, the resolution said.
The Capital-Journal had not been able to reach Marcotte as of Tuesday morning. He had not responded to emails sent last month and again on Monday to what was believed to be his personal email address.
The USD 421 Board of Education placed Marcotte on administrative leave last month after he was arrested Oct. 18 on suspicion of child endangerment and obstruction, district parents were told in an email that evening from Bryant Derley, chairman of the board.
“We would like to thank our staff for acting quickly and following our safety procedures to keep students safe and out of harm’s way,” the email said.
Marcotte, 53, of Scranton, was arrested by Lyndon police and booked into the Osage County Jail in Lyndon on Oct. 18 at 4:49 p.m. on one felony count of child endangerment and obstruction, said Bret Lewis, communications director for the Osage County Sheriff’s Office.
Marcotte was then released at 6:45 p.m. that day after a $2,500 bond was posted, Lewis said.
Lyndon Police Chief David Forkenbrock said last month that his department would not publicly reveal any further details about the incident.
Where is Lyndon, Kansas?
Lyndon City Attorney Pat Walsh did not respond Tuesday to phone or email messages left Monday by The Capital-Journal asking about the status of the criminal case against Marcotte.
Lyndon, which has a population of about 1,000, is about 30 miles south of Topeka.
Marcotte became superintendent in 2019 for $421. He previously served as principal of Lyndon High School since 2005.
Contact Tim Hrenchir at threnchir@gannett.com or 785-213-5934.
This article originally appeared in Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas district: Lyndon superintendent drove school bus after drinking
