DANVILLE — Danville Local Schools leadership expressed concern about former elementary principal Tara Bond’s performance, specifically attendance and public relations, before her resignation on Nov. 29.
Superintendent Jason Snively, who is serving as the interim elementary principal, said the resignation was a mutual agreement between the district and Bond.
Bond did not respond to Knox Pages’ multiple interview requests. Snively provided the following written statement to Knox Pages regarding Bond’s resignation:
“Mrs. Bond has been dedicated to the stakeholders of Danville Local Schools for many years. Unfortunately, at this time Mrs. Bond and the Danville Local School District have agreed that it would be in the best interest of all stakeholders for her to resign from her position as Elementary principal.”
While Snively declined to comment on the specific circumstances of Bond’s resignation, he positioned her resignation as one example of the larger issue of educator burnout throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, specifically citing increased managerial and mediation work.
The job has changed, Snively said, adding that he is concerned for the future of educators across the country — and specifically for the viability of Danville Local Schools due to its already small size.
In Bond’s evaluation from June 25, 2021, obtained by Knox Pages, Snively wrote Bond’s job performance was “below average with regard to certain functions.” Snively wrote many of Bond’s challenges as an administrator related to attendance. She had worked in the district for about a decade.
“In your time at Danville Local Schools, you have missed 193 total days and at least some portion of the day 207 times,” Snively wrote in the evaluation. “That constitutes an entire school year of absence.”
Attendance and tardiness were mentioned several times throughout the evaluation, with specific mentions that Bond missed 11 board meetings in the past two years and has reported to work late.
Attendance and tardiness concerns had been noted in Bond’s previous evaluations at Danville, however improvements in both areas were noted prior to last school year.
Previous evaluations also noted Bond had been an asset to the administrative team, worked well with the superintendent and staff, and that she had improved morale and loyalty in her building, among other positive attributes that led to her contract extensions.
Regarding the recent 2021 evaluation, Snively wrote another concern included Bond’s ability to maintain good public relations with the community.
“Parents and staff within the district and community expressed concerns that they do not feel welcome in the building and/or principal was not readily available or responded to requests in a timely manner,” Snively wrote in the evaluation.
The evaluation concluded with Snively advising that future concerns may result in disciplinary action, which could mean a recommendation for termination of employment.
The district agreed to pay Bond’s salary through the remainder of the current school year, according to the letter from the district Bond signed detailing severance benefits and the conditions of resignation. Bond’s 2021-22 salary was $91,128.
“The District will provide you with severance pay in the gross amount of $66,194.90, which reflects the sum of $59,588.66 for wages that would have been paid through the end of your contract,” the letter reads, “and an additional $6,606.24 in contemplation of your need to acquire health care coverage.”
The conditions of Bond’s resignation include a confidentiality agreement, according to the aforementioned severance letter, under which Bond agreed not to disclose the “terms, conditions and facts” of the agreement. The letter also specified that Bond and the district are “not to defame or disparage each other in any manner whatsoever.” This agreement extends to the district’s affiliates, employers, officers and directors.
Bond’s letter of resignation does not indicate the reasoning behind her resignation.
“I am writing to give notice of my resignation from my position as Elementary principal of Danville Local School District,” Bond’s letter of resignation reads. “My effective date of resignation will be Nov. 29, 2021.”
Bond cannot seek reemployment in the future with Danville Local Schools, its affiliates, related entities and successors, according to the severance letter.
Bond has a PhD in leadership from Walden University, a master’s in education from Cleveland State University, and a bachelor’s of education from Malone College. Before Bond came to Danville Local Schools, she worked as a principal and assistant principal in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District.
Snively plans to recommend an interim principal replacement, who is a retired elementary principal and superintendent, to take over at the beginning of January 2022.
The district intends to begin accepting applications in February or March for an official principal replacement, who will begin at the start of the 2022-23 school year.
