U-46 official placed on leave

Elgin Area School District U-46 officials have put their human resources director on administrative leave, but aren’t saying why.

Deborah Zelinski, 54, who makes $160,000 a year, was placed on leave last Friday and will be paid during her absence, district spokesman Tony Sanders said.

Sanders declined to discuss why Zelinski hasn’t been back to work, but said, “I can assure you there was nothing criminal and nothing reported to any police departments, period.”

Zelinski has been the district’s chief human resources officer for about a year and a half, Sanders said.

In her absence, Superintendent Jose Torres, Chief Operations Officer Jeff King and Sanders will manage her duties.

Officials have not determined how long Zelinski will remain on leave.

Calls placed to a pair of phone numbers listed for Zelinski were not returned Friday.