Derby High School Principal Resigns

FILEGreg Gaillard, the principal at Derby High School, resigned for personal reasons, according to a message on the Derby school district’s website.

Gaillard’s resignation comes after the top two administrators at Derby Middle School were put on administrative leave Nov. 25. 

The middle school leaders were placed on administrative leave because of their handling of a bomb threat last month, though the district refuses to release details. 

Gaillard’s decision to leave is not connected to the middle school situation, a source told the Valley Indy.

The message from the school district doesn’t go into details about Gaillard’s resignation, which was effective as of Dec. 9.

His resignation was abrupt. Gaillard handed in a letter of resignation last night, effective the same day.

His letter reads:

To whom it may concern,

I hereby tender my resignation as principal from Derby Public Schools for personal reasons on December 9, 2014 with an effective date to be determined by the Derby Board of Education.”

The high school has an interim administration” taking over leadership roles.

Martin J. Pascale is the acting principal, and staffers Deb Almonte and Rachael Artaiz are acting vice principals, according to the message posted on the website.

The Derby Board of Education has a meeting scheduled for 6:30 p.m. tonight at Derby Middle School.

Gaillard was employed at the high school for four years before being named principal in 2011. Parents were singing his praises at a recent school board meeting.

His starting salary was $123,472.

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