Grayslake N. principal accused of sexual harassment in former job
Eric Vance landed in an internal sexual harassment investigation and didn't finish the last academic year in his former principal job, but he topped more than 50 candidates to become Grayslake North High School's new leader for this school year.
Vance came highly recommended to Grayslake from a top administrator at his former employer, Plainfield Unit District 202, where the investigation occurred.
"Even though I have known Eric for a short time, I can attest to his abilities as a leader, high level of character and professionalism," stated an April letter to Grayslake High School District 127 from Larie Godinez, who at the time was Plainfield's assistant superintendent for administration and personnel.
But Grayslake High School Superintendent Catherine Finger said she never received information about the internal sexual harassment probe from Vance or District 202 officials before he was hired as principal.
Finger said she learned about the existence of District 202 documents related to the accusations for the first time Tuesday when a Freedom of Information Act response was presented to her by the Daily Herald.
Godinez, in an interview this week, said she was familiar with the internal investigation when she supported Vance in her letter to District 127, which the Daily Herald obtained through the Freedom of Information Act request. She refused to say why she didn't inform Grayslake High about the probe.
"If I had been concerned about it, I would not have written a letter of recommendation," said Godinez, now the schools superintendent in Dubuque, Iowa.
District 202 acknowledged it has the documents issued in 2009 pertaining to the claims against Vance made by a woman who reported to him while he was Plainfield North High School's principal, but it cited legal exemptions in not releasing the material, including information on whether the investigation came to a conclusion.
Vance, who's earning $126,500 as Grayslake North's principal in a year, did not return five detailed messages seeking comment.
Finger said there were some comments about Vance found on the Internet during the hiring process, but he and some District 202 officials portrayed them as politically fueled "rumors" in Plainfield.
She said she considers an internal investigation to be different from an online rumor.
"Obviously, I would want to know anything that's salient and important about any employee that I am reviewing as part of my selection process," Finger said. "I would want to know, was there any sort of inappropriate behavior? Was there any sort of disciplinary measure leveled against any employee that I'm reviewing for hire?
"Certainly, I would want to know that. And I certainly did not discover any of that."
Finger said Vance got the Grayslake North job over at least 50 other candidates for the 2009-10 academic year. She said Vance has been good with students and a visible administrator in his short tenure at Grayslake North.
District 202 officials confirmed Vance did not complete the 2008-09 academic year as Plainfield North's principal. Board member Stuart Bledsoe said Vance was removed as principal in the spring and shifted to a job at District 202's administration office, pending results from the internal probe.
Vance's resignation as Plainfield North's principal, effective at the end of the 2008-09 school year "for personal reasons," was announced at an April 28 board meeting, official District 202 minutes show.
Bledsoe said he did not share Godinez's praise for Vance.
He said he holds District 202 principals to high standards, given their influence on students and role as community leaders.
"I can say, on the record, I'm glad he's no longer in our district," Bledsoe said of Vance.
District 202 spokesman Tom Hernandez said it's not unheard of for a principal to be switched to another position during the school year. Hernandez said the district wanted Vance to keep working in the other job because he had a contract and would have been paid regardless of his employment status.