I'm actually OK with the paid leave, providing that the investigation is honest and timely. Speaking broadly, it's a safety mechanism that allows time to investigate allegations while at the same time removing the subject from a position where they can do further harm if the allegations turn out to be correct, and minimizing the harm to the subject if the allegations turn out to be incorrect.

In this particular case it looks pretty clear cut -- but at the same time, I don't think I would want an organization to immediately fire someone based solely on a newspaper article and photograph. Putting them on leave while the district spends a few days looking more closely at the incident seems reasonable to me in terms of the greater good.