Matthew Palcer, principal of Centennial Elementary School in Bartlett, was placed on administrative leave effective Monday, School District U-46 officials confirmed Wednesday.
The district provided no details as to why the action was taken.
“We are fully committed to ensuring that our school’s operations and educational programs continue seamlessly during this period,” U-46 spokeswoman Tara Burghart said in the email.
Bill Doran, a retired School District 300 principal, will provide administrative support at Centennial until further notice, Burghart said.
Palcer, who could not be reached for comment, has been Centennial’s principal since 2021. According to his profile on the school district’s website, he had been principal of Marie Murphy Middle School in Wilmette for nine years before to coming to Centennial. Prior to that, he was principal of Pleasant Hill Elementary School and assistant principal at Jane Addams Elementary School, both in Palatine.
He started his career as a teacher and middle school student advisor. He has a bachelor’s degree in secondary social studies education from University of Illinois, a master’s degree in education administration from National Louis University and is working on a doctorate at Concordia University, the site said.
Palcer is the second U-46 principal at a Bartlett school to be put on administrative leave this year.
Michael Demovsky was removed from his job as Bartlett High School principal in March while an investigation was conducted into his “administrative practices” regarding changing some students’ grades. He was later discharged from his job and reclassified as a teacher.
Demovsky, a principal at the school for 16 years, challenged that action, saying through his attorney that he had followed district policies when allowing students to have their grades amended by doing additional work.
In April, the U-46 School Board approved a settlement with Demovsky through which he was paid through June 30 and given a $50,000 severance payment.
Mike Danahey is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.
