Grayslake North High principal Vance resigns amid harassment scandal
Grayslake North High School Principal Eric Vance's resignation was accepted Thursday night, about a week after it surfaced he was the subject of a sexual harassment investigation while performing the same job in Plainfield last year.
Vance bested about 50 candidates to lead Grayslake North for 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.
After a closed-door discussion on personnel and other issues, Grayslake High School District 127 board members Thursday approved Vance's resignation from the $126,500-a-year principal job. Vance did not attend the meeting.
District 127 Superintendent Catherine Finger and board President Michael Hutchins declined to comment beyond information provided in a prepared release.
Last week, the Daily Herald raised questions about Vance's brief career as Plainfield North's principal. Then Vance went on a paid leave of absence Dec. 4, when the Daily Herald story appeared.
Finger said she didn't know Plainfield Unit 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 last week. She said some information about Vance on the Internet was portrayed as politically fueled rumors during the hiring process.
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.
Larie Godinez, District 202's ex-assistant superintendent for administration and personnel, backed Vance's Grayslake North job quest with a letter of recommendation April 30. She didn't note the investigation or Vance's reassignment.
District 127's assistant superintendent for personnel services, Scott Fech, will serve as interim principal for the rest of the 2009-10 academic year. Officials said the selection process for Grayslake North's next principal will be announced after winter break.
"The care, support and education of each of our students remains our top priority," District 127 officials said in the release issued Thursday night. "(District) 127 remains committed to provide a high-quality educational program, which challenges students to reach their highest potential."
Vance, who has yet to return messages seeking comment, did not finish the 2008-09 academic year as Plainfield North's principal. District 202 officials said Vance was moved to an administrative office job pending the sexual harassment 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.
Vance submitted a cover letter to Finger applying for the Grayslake North post May 22. In a two-page resume, he said he demonstrated strong ethics in helping to cut 14 jobs for 2009-10 at Plainfield North.
In the September edition of The Knight-Times, Grayslake North's student newspaper, Vance said he looked forward to working at District 127 in part because of its devotion to community service and activities.
"I think through an interview process, I got to know about the district as they learned about me," Vance told The Knight-Times. "I feel this is a good match and fit for me."
Resign: Assistant superintendent will take spot
<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=342354">Grayslake North principal on leave after sex harassment probe revealed <span class="date">[12/07/09]</span></a></li> <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>