Michael Demovsky has been removed as principal of Bartlett High School following an investigation into some of his administrative practices, but he will be allowed to return to teaching, the District U-46 School Board decided this week.
Demovsky was placed on administrative leave in March during the probe, the details of which have not been made public.
“I just want to say to the community that I understand it seems like a lot of things happen in private,” board member Dawn Martin, a Bartlett resident, said during the meeting. “I want to remind the community that personnel matters are discussed in closed (sessions). It’s not about hiding things from our community or not being transparent.
“While I can’t speak for the board, I can speak for myself just as a reminder that things like this, we don’t take lightly. Whenever we’re looking at personnel matters, there’s a lot of discussion, a lot of reviewing facts and making sure. … We are thinking about everyone before we make these decisions.”
Demovsky’s leave was announced in March by district Superintendent Suzanne Johnson, who said in a statement that the investigation did not involve the safety of any past or current students or staff.
Demovsky’s base salary for the current school year is $154,690, according to information on the U-46 website. His salary will be reduced when he returns to teaching although no information about what he will be paid or where he will be teaching was released.
“At this time, information about a different assignment for the individual is not available. We are still working through the process,” district spokeswoman Karla Jiménez said Tuesday. “Once we have more information and are at a stage where we can share, we will promptly communicate that to our community.”
Melanie Meidel, a retired U-46 high school principal and assistant superintendent, was appointed to serve as interim principal at Bartlett High School for the remainder of the school year.
Jiménez said district officials anticipate starting a search for a new principal later this month.
Demovsky was appointed Bartlett principal in 2016. Prior to that, he was prinicipal at Kenyon Woods Middle School in South Elgin for four years and assistant principal at Streamwood High School for two years. He taught at Bartlett High School from 1998 to 2006.
In 2017 Demovsky was a top 10 finalist for the Golden Apple Foundation’s Stanley C. Golder Achievement Leadership Award.
Mike Danahey is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.
