An employee of Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis is on administrative leave as an allegation of “inappropriate physical contact with a student” is investigated by police.

In a March 4 letter to the school’s families, school leaders said they received the allegation the evening of March 2 and reported it to the Minneapolis Police Department the following morning.

School officials contacted Tim O’Malley, director of the Archdiocese’s Office of Ministerial Standards and Safe Environment, and leaders also met with the parents of the student who made the allegation.

“The safety and well-being of our students is paramount, and we ask that everyone in the Annunciation community respect the confidentiality of those involved in this matter, particularly the student, and respect the investigation process,” school leaders said in the letter, which was signed by Pastor Father William Deziel, Principal Kari Zoebel and Business Administrator Thomas Konz.

The leaders promised to keep the school community informed about the situation and asked for patience “because it is unclear how long the process will take.” They asked for anyone with information related to the incident to contact police, the school’s leaders or the archdiocese’s Office of Ministerial Standards and Safe Environment.

Annunciation Catholic School is located in south Minneapolis, with about 340 students in kindergarten to grade eight.