(KAIR)--The former President of Atchison's Maur Hill-Mount Academy has been placed on leave from the leadership role he took after departing from the private, Catholic high school.

That leave became effective Thursday for Phil Baniewicz who will remain on leave from his role as President for the Kansas City-area Bishop Miege Catholic high school, pending an investigation.

That's confirmed by the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, with Archbishop Shawn McKnight Friday issuing a statement confirming the decision. The statement says he supports the move made by the high school's Board of Trustees "for the well-being of the school," adding that "due to recent reports concerning [Baniewicz's] ability to oversee a safe environment for BMHS, a thorough investigation has been initiated."

An interim president has been appointed to take over during the investigation.

Calling the matter a "confidential personnel matter," the Archbishop's statement says "no further information will be provided until the investigation is concluded."

Baniewicz, the subject of past abuse allegations, has, according to numerous Kansas City-area media reports, drawn concerns from parents of students at the Kansas City-area high school based on his past, including a 2005 civil lawsuit accusing him of teen sexual abuse in Arizona during the 1980s. He was additionally accused of doing nothing to stop abuse committed by other priests there. However, the lawsuit was settled, and Baniewicz has never faced any legal charges.

The allegations are not new to Baniewicz who, after leaving his role as Vice-President of College Relations at Atchison's Benedictine College to accept the role of Maur Hill-Mount Academy President in 2010, sat down with MSC Radio News to address then Atchison concerns regarding his past. Baniewicz, during that interview and at other times the accusations have arisen, denied the allegations.

Baniewicz has served as Bishop Miege President since late 2023.