QUINCY, Mass. (AP) – The president of Quincy College was placed on leave pending an investigation into his handling of the school’s fund-raising foundation, according to a published report.

The board last week voted 6-4 to suspend Sean Barry, 40, but wouldn’t publicly reveal the reason.

Three sources on the board of governors told the Patriot Ledger of Quincy the primary reason for Barry’s involuntary hiatus was the pending investigation.

Theresa Lord Piatelli, the board’s chairwoman, told the newspaper that the primary allegation is Barry used foundation money to pay for his travel expenses.

Barry, 40, is the foundation’s liaison to the board. Piatelli said Barry has not kept the board informed of foundation dealings and has hand-picked members of the foundation to invite to meetings.

“By their own bylaws, there was never a quorum,” she told the newspaper. “I’ve never received a single meeting notice to attend a meeting of the foundation, and the president has never brought back a list of donations to the foundation for acceptance by the board.”

The college has refused to respond to the newspaper’s May 2 request for records of Barry’s travel expenses, the newspaper reported Saturday.

Barry’s lawyer, Margaret Donovan, said her client discussed using foundation money for travel at an April 2004 foundation meeting with board member Richard Nici. She said any travel expense was authorized by at least one board member.

The board plans to audit the fund.

Barry was placed on paid leave Wednesday. He’s been under fire since a critical audit of the school’s surgical technology program, which was suspended after it allegedly failed to provide required operating room training to two graduates.

Barry is the fifth president since the two-year college’s founding in 1957.

“My experience with the board of governors over the years has been one built on a precious trust and mutual commitment to the college,” he said in a statement.