DERBY >> Beloved Derby High School Principal Greg Gaillard has resigned effective immediately, leaving more questions than answers surrounding the turmoil plaguing the school district.
The following note was posted on the school’s website Wednesday:
“As of December 9, 2014, Mr. Gaillard, for personal reasons, has resigned as principal of Derby High School. The interim administration team beginning Wednesday, December 10, 2014, will be Mr. (Martin) Pascale, Acting Principal, and Deb Almonte and Rachael Artaiz as Acting Vice Principals. We will keep you informed as to any additional information as it becomes available. Thank you for your understanding and have a great day.”
The Board of Education already had a special meeting scheduled for 6:30 p.m. tonight at Derby Middle School, but will not discuss Gaillard’s abrupt resignation because, when a special meeting is called, the agenda cannot be changed legally.
Gaillard’s resignation comes a week after the board appointed two interim administrators to lead Derby Middle School. Gaillard had served for the past two weeks as interim principal at DMS to rave reviews by students, staff and parents. His interim appointment was needed, according to Superintendent of Schools Matthew Conway, while the board conducted “personnel investigations” of the middle school leadership.
Despite rumors that DMS Principal Sean Morrissey and Assistant Principal/Dean of Students Matthew Spar have tendered their resignations over their handling of a bomb threat made by a student last month, Conway had said the two are still employed but are not working in the building.
Retired Woodland Regional High School Principal Dr. Arnold Frank and former Irving School Principal Paul Landolfi were appointed by the board last week to serve as interim administrators at DMS until permanent replacements in the leadership can be found, Conway said.
Conway would not release any details as to why the administrative changes at DMS were made, and would not confirm whether they had anything to do with the bomb threat. A 13-year-old female student at the school was arrested for allegedly leaving a written bomb threat in a school bathroom in late November, which caused the school to go into a three-hour lockdown, while police and the Connecticut State Police Bomb Squad determined the building was safe. Conway and the board decided to keep the school closed the following day, as well, to ensure it was safe for students and staff.
Parents at last week’s board meeting, where the interim administrators were named, expressed anger about the leadership at DMS, and said there have been six to seven different administrators in charge of the building over the last three years. The rapid turnover in school leaders has left parents reeling, with some saying the school is in “turmoil.” Conway denied those claims.
“While we have some changes happening, it certainly is not in turmoil, as we have some of the most competent and dedicated people doing what they do every day to make sure children are learning and safe,” Conway said Wednesday.
Conway choked back tears last week, trying to address parents’ concerns, and said the board will do its due diligence in finding the right leadership for the middle school.
At that same meeting, Conway became emotional as he thanked Gaillard and his staff for stepping up as interim leaders at the middle school. Many parents said their students were very impressed by Gaillard in just the two short weeks he worked there. He was known for giving kids “high fives” and calling them by their first names, and overall creating a nurturing and caring atmosphere that parents said has been lacking at the middle school for years.
Jim Stadt, a member of the Board of Education, said Wednesday night he doesn’t know why Gaillard resigned.
“It is a shock, and I don’t want to lose him,” Stadt said. “I don’t want to pry. He has cited personal reasons. Rumors are flying, but that is all we know - that he resigned for personal reasons.”
Stadt called it a great loss for Derby High.
“He was a great school administrator and had a great rapport with the students,” Stadt said. “At this point, the Board of Education is more concerned with how to keep the students comfortable and focused on learning. The assistant principal will pick up the reins, and we will go from there.”
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