Parents voiced support Monday for Centennial Elementary School Principal Matthew Palcer, who was placed on administrative leave from the Bartlett school last week, but teachers said there were problems of violence and chaos within the Individualized Learning Program.

Speaking at the District U-46 School Board meeting, parent Brandon Massey said he was shocked last week when he received an email from Kyle Bunker, U-46’s executive director of elementary schools, Bartlett Network, informing parents that Palcer was being placed on leave without any explanation as to why.

Massey requested more information.

“Dr. Bunker assured me that nothing inappropriate had happened toward a student nor toward another staff member and that I would have no difficult conversations with my child,” Massey said.

He heard nothing beyond that until Monday, when interim Principal Bill Doran emailed Massey that he was impressed with many of the systems and supports put in place by Palcer, Massey said.

“My request is for greater transparency from the board and the district, to reinstate Mr. Palcer and to provide the school with the resources it needs to have a safe learning environment for all students,” he said.

Massey was one of seven people to speak about Palcer during the public comment portion of the meeting.

“Although the details remain confidential, I believe it’s crucial to speak to the immense value (Palcer) brings to our school,” said Justin Kanthak, who has two daughters attending Centennial and whose wife heads the school’s parent-teacher conference (PTC). “Mr. Palcer exemplifies mutual respect and acceptance.”

His absence has affected school spirit and the lack of information has fueled speculation, which undermines Palcer and the school’s other educators, Kanthak said.

But Individualized Learning Program teacher Stephanie Beer said there have been problems at the school. Class sizes for school’s ILP program have increased from six to eight students last year to 10 to 13 students this year.

“That is a 62% increase, without any additional paraeducators for our classrooms. This has shown to be a serious issue at Centennial,” she said.

According to Beer, two staff members have had serious injuries and haven’t been able to return to work, which has contributed to the situation.

“Every staff member who works in or with our ILP program goes home with scratches, bruises, hits and maybe even bite marks on a daily basis,” she said.

Students also have been injured by being hit in the head with metal water bottles and being bitten on the face, Beer said. Safety issues are impeding the goals set for her ILP students.

Mary Oloris, treasurer of the school’s PTC and a parent of two students, read a statement from a teacher who asked not to be named. The teacher claimed there is a sense of fear in their part of the building daily, with constant screaming and violent behavior, mainly from one student. There have been no consequences for that behavior, which continues to escalate, according to the teacher.

Parent Carla Wood, speaking via Zoom, said there has been a lack of support from the district for the school’s ILP program. Students have had to deal with fire alarms being pulled, hallways being cleared and an ILP section being closed, Wood said. The school secretary was taken out by ambulance the same week Palcer was placed on leave, she said.

That said, Palcer is “happy, energetic, roams the halls after school and serves as the face and mascot of Centennial Elementary,” said Drew Piper, parent of one current and one former Centennial student. “His door is always open, and he creates a fun and educational learning environment. That being said, he can be stern but fair.”

Piper recalled that at the start of the 2023-24 school year, his oldest daughter (now in 7th grade) started what would be successful treatment for kidney cancer. Palcer assured the family that he and the school would do everything they could to make sure Centennial would provide a healthy and happy environment upon her return to class.

Palcer hosted a school parade for the girl upon her completion of chemotherapy and has continued to ask Piper about how his daughter is doing, Piper said.

Tom Walsh said his son struggles with school, and Palcer has helped the boy succeed.

“Matt has done great things for my family,” Walsh said. “We’re lucky to have him, and when we found out he was put on administrative leave, it hurt. We need him back. We need Matt.”

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.