(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Days after he was abruptly put on administrative leave, some supporters of Bartlett High School’s principal defended him at last night’s school board meeting.
“I have never met anyone so enthusiastic to be at school at 7 a.m. every day,” said student Emily Guadarrama.
Guadarrama described Principal Mike Demovsky as irreplaceable and patient.
“I understand that Mike Demovsky has been rumored to be altering the grades of some of his students, but I’d like to point out this should not have cost him his career in which he had served Bartlett High,” she said. “Mike Demovsky was a devoted principal and not only advocated for the students, but for the staff as well.”
Parent Brock Friedman told members of the U-46 school board he thought it was a mistake for them to put Demovsky on leave and asked that they allow him to send off graduating seniors.
“Let them get their diploma from him when they graduate,” he said. “If you don’t do that, then you’re not living up to the values that you expect other people to uphold.”
The board approved a resolution — without naming anyone — that would reclassify a principal and reassign them as a teacher.
Officials said the district is cooperating with an investigation into Demovsky’s administrative practices. While not specifying what those issues were, the district said they did not involve the safety of students or staff.
Listen to our new podcast Looped In: Chicago
Listen to WBBM Newsradio now on Audacy!
Sign up and follow WBBM Newsradio
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | TikTok