Grayslake North principal on leave after sex harassment probe revealed
Eric Vance has been placed on a paid leave of absence as Grayslake North High School's principal amid revelations he was the subject of an internal sexual harassment investigation while in the same post in Plainfield last year.
Vance signed a contract in June to head Grayslake North for $126,500 over the 2009-10 term. He was hired as principal for the 2008-09 academic year at Plainfield North High School, but was shifted to another district job in the spring and then left for Grayslake.
Grayslake High School District 127 Superintendent Catherine Finger said Monday that Vance has been placed on paid approved leave. Finger, who declined further comment, has said she didn't know about Plainfield Unit District 202's sexual harassment probe of Vance during the hiring process.
Finger selected District 127's assistant superintendent for personnel services, Scott Fech, to be Grayslake North's interim principal. Fech began the job Friday and will hold it for the "foreseeable future," Finger said.
"He's very well liked by the faculty and staff," she said of Fech.
District 127 board President Michael Hutchins released a statement on the principal change. He didn't mention Vance by name.
"The fact that the students, faculty, staff, administration and parents are keeping the focus on teaching and learning at Grayslake North is a strong reflection of the values and beliefs we hold as a district," Hutchins said. "While this is an unexpected leadership change, we are all pulling together to serve the needs of our students. The strength of the leadership team, faculty and staff at North is making this transition as smooth as possible."
Finger said she and Fech greeted employees and students as they arrived for classes Monday.
On Friday, a Daily Herald story raised questions about Vance's brief career as Plainfield North's principal and how he topped at least 50 candidates to secure the top job at Grayslake North.
Finger said she didn't know District 202 had documents related to the sexual harassment complaint lodged against Vance, 37, until a Freedom of Information Act response was presented to her by the Daily Herald.
District 202 acknowledges there are documents issued in 2009 involving claims against Vance made by a woman who reported to him at Plainfield North. Citing legal exemptions, District 202 refuses to release to the public the probe's findings and recommendations.
Vance, who hasn't returned messages seeking comment, did not finish the 2008-09 academic year as Plainfield North's principal. District 202 board member Stuart Bledsoe said Vance was moved to an administrative office job pending the probe's results.
District 202's board president announced Vance's resignation for personal reasons at an April 28 meeting. District spokesman Tom Hernandez said Vance went to the administration office for the last leg of the school year because he had a contract and would have been paid regardless of employment status.
District 202's former assistant superintendent for administration and personnel, Larie Godinez, wrote a letter of recommendation for Vance to Grayslake High on April 30. She did not mention the investigation or Vance's reassignment in the letter.
Vance submitted a cover letter to Finger applying for the Grayslake North post May 22. In a two-page resume, he states he demonstrated strong ethics in helping to cut 14 jobs for 2009-10 at Plainfield North.
"As a principal," Vance wrote, "I am looking for a challenge in a district committed to continual improvement and student learning."
<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=341658">Grayslake N. principal accused of sexual harassment in former job <span class="date">[12/04/09]</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>