A teacher who vocally supported a fellow colleague when she was reassigned following a controversy over a carpet removal has now been placed on administrative leave.

Brooke Fahey, the principal of Phoebe Hearst Elementary School in Sacramento, Calif., announced the move on Monday, Oct. 6, in a message shared with parents, which was later obtained by PEOPLE. 

“I am writing to share with you that the SCUSD [Sacramento City Unified School District] has placed 6th grade teacher Mark Henrikson on administrative leave,” Fahey wrote. “At this time, I cannot provide any additional details about this District-level decision.”

Fahey’s message noted that a substitute will cover Henrikson’s class as the school works to install a qualified instructor as soon as possible.

According to concerned parents, Henrikson was an avid supporter of fellow 6th-grade teacher Jeanine Rupert, who was reassigned by the district following an incident towards the end of the previous school year.

“Mr. Henrikson was outspoken from the beginning of Mrs. Rupert’s removal,” Brenda Buford, a parent, tells PEOPLE in an email. “I think it goes without saying that this is pure retaliation! Mr. Henrikson was present at protests and on the news, speaking about the situation. I am sure he did this knowing he was at risk. He did it because it was the right thing to do for Mrs. Rupert.”

In an email to PEOPLE about Henrikson being put on administrative leave, school district spokesperson Brian Heap wrote that the district “goes to great lengths to ensure all of our campuses remain safe, healthy and welcoming spaces for everyone.”

“We have no further comment on this personnel matter,” Heap added.

Henrikson was unavailable for comment when reached by PEOPLE, according to a representative.

Rupert’s sister previously told PEOPLE that “the carpet in her classroom was a clear hazard.”

“It was worn, unsanitary, was recently infested with fleas, and put the children at risk for tripping and falling,” Kathryn O’Brien said. “All of which the district was keenly aware of for many years.”

Parents maintained that Rupert had repeatedly asked the district to remove the carpeting before pulling it up, NBC affiliate KCRA reported. 

According to the SCUSD, the carpeting in Rupert’s classroom covered tiles containing asbestos, which if exposed can cause health issues such as lung cancer and mesothelioma. It is not certain whether the teacher knew about the asbestos before removing the carpet.

However, as the district told KCRA, an investigation determined that “none of asbestos tiles underneath the classroom carpet had been damaged” and the removal “did not cause a disturbance that would cause exposure to asbestos.”

In a statement shared with PEOPLE, Heap said that the SCUSD does not comment on personnel matters, but said that the reassignment decision was made following a district investigation.

“In general, there are times that after a lapse in judgment has occurred, what is best for both the teacher and the impacted school community is a separation and fresh start,” Heap continued. “Throughout this process, we have heard families and given thoughtful consideration to their concerns.”

Cailtin Beckett, a parent at the elementary school, tells PEOPLE that she was devastated and heartbroken over the news about Henrikson, who also served as the school’s flag football coach. 

“Since 2015, he has built and developed all of the common areas with gardening, park benches, and total beautification of our school,” Beckett writes in an email statement. “The best part is that he pulls students and former students into the process. It’s amazing. And [he] uses the opportunity to teach math. My daughter never understood math until putting it into practice her 6th grade year.”

The recent moves at Phoebe Hearst Elementary have left only one sixth-grade teacher on staff, parents tell PEOPLE.

“Some of the sixth graders are anxious or confused, and there’s been a noticeable mix of emotions—everything from uncertainty to resilience and anxiety,” says Buford. “The staff has been doing their best to support them and maintain a sense of normalcy, but it’s been an adjustment for everyone.”

According to Beckett, some parents are considering options for their children such as transferring them out of the school or homeschooling. 

“The kids themselves are asking ‘Why go to school now?  There’s no point,’ ” she writes.  “It’s amazing that with things at this point, the district refuses to engage in their own confrontational resolution process with our community.”

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Concerned parents wrote a letter to the district and a GoFundMe was also set up to fund legal costs for Rupert and Henrikson.

“Due to what we believe is a wrongful suspension and termination, Mrs. Rupert and Mr. H have been forced to step away from the classrooms and students they love. They are now in the fight of their lives to defend their integrity and return to the school community where they belong,” read a message on the fundraiser.

As for what she would like to say to the school district administrators, Beckett urged them to engage with the community. “Your actions are doing nothing but creating learning loss for more students under your guidance,” she writes.

“Bring Mrs. Rupert and Mr. Henrikson back!” adds Buford. “Phoebe Hearst families will not back down and will not give up!“