CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) — Hollymead principal Joe McCauley has been placed on administrative leave as the Albemarle School Board reviews allegations brought forward in the wake of a staffer’s arrest, the board announced in an email to families on Monday.

“Administrative leave is not a finding or conclusion, but it is an important step while the review takes place,” the email said. “We know this is a difficult and unsettling time for Hollymead families, students, staff, and our community as a whole. Many people have questions, and we understand why.

“While we cannot discuss confidential personnel details or the specifics of an active review, we do believe the community should be informed when there is a change in school leadership.”

The board noted a plan for administrative support will be shared with Hollymead families and staff once finalized. Summer school will be supervised by the hired summer administrator and the school will also receive support from assistant principals from other elementary schools.

The decision comes days after the Albemarle School Board announced it had asked Superintendent Matthew Haas to resign during the board’s meeting on Thursday. in midst of intense backlash toward Haas and ACPS as a whole following former Hollymead staffer Michael Swiney’s arrest on June 4.

Swiney was arrested and charged with 11 felonies related to allegations he committed sex crimes involving children on June 4.

Following his arrest, Hollymead parents drafted a petition demanding full accountability and transparency from ACPS and the school board. That same day, a meeting was scheduled at Hollymead on Wednesday, giving parents a chance to express their frustrations before Thursday’s school board meeting.

During the tense, emotional meeting, parents directed many of their frustrations, and at times anger, toward Haas and McCauley. Many questioned why ACPS had no prepared plan to inform the families whose children met with Swiney according to records, as well as why there was no action plan for reviewing current ACPS policies.

Many parents also accused McCauley, who has been at Hollymead since 2022, of ignoring and downplaying their complaints of Swiney for years, and said they were not notificed when Swiney took their children out of class.

One parent even said they told McCauley that Swiney had locked her son in his office and refused to let him out until a teacher intervened. The parent claimed McCauley told her she was “overreacting,” which McCauley vehemently denied.

McCauley had sent an email to Hollymead families earlier Monday afternoon in what he called “an effort to provide consistent updates and communication to all of you.” In the email, he promised to send a message to families with updates every Monday during the summer, and planned to contact every family individually.

He also mentioned how Hollymead had added resources for families on the front page of its website, covering topics like how to talk to kids about sexual abuse and where to seek support. He said ACPS was working on measures of direct support for students, families and staff.

“Please know that I recognize the shock, the hurt and the sadness that recent events have caused our community,” McCauley wrote. “I continue to make the process of assistance to children, families and staff my top priority each day.”