The St. Edmond Catholic School Board has confirmed that St. Edmond President and High School Principal Mary Gibb remains on a leave of absence from the school.

The school board notified students’ families and school staff in an email on Wednesday, but did not specify why Gibb is on a leave of absence.

“We are obligated to protect the privacy of all our staff members when it comes to any issues related to personnel or leaves of absence,” the email reads. “At this time we can share that she is on a leave of absence, and we do not have her expected return to work date.”

The school board directed any school-related issues to Tabitha Acree, principal of the elementary and middle schools, or David Flattery, athletic director.

“The school board wants to be as transparent as possible, but it would be inappropriate to share any other information at this time,” the email said.

On Friday, The Messenger reached out to the Diocese of Sioux City to ask if Gibb was still employed as the president and high school principal at St. Edmond and if she had been placed on administrative suspension. The Messenger also asked that if she was, in fact, suspended or no longer employed with the school, if it had anything to do with the Jan. 24 incident where a 16-year-old student was arrested after making a verbal threat about using a firearm at school, and if it was a decision made by the Diocese of Sioux City or by Holy Trinity Parish.

“We will not discuss personnel matters with the media, or anyone for that matter,” was the reply from Patt Lansink, superintendent of Catholic schools for the diocese.

The Messenger sent the same questions to Barb O’Connor and Ann Schulte, the chair and vice chair of the St. Edmond School Board, on Friday and received no response.