Rockville High School Principal Stepping Down

Eric Baim is stepping down as principal at Rockville High School.

A letter of resignation is included in Monday's Board of Education packet. The school board is scheduled to meet at 7 at Lake Street School. A proposed motion to accept Baim's resignation "with regret and gratitude" is on the agenda.

Baim's last day will be June 30 if the resignation is accepted, according to the letter. That is the final day of the current fiscal year.

Baim announced it to the school staff late this morning. He said he did not want to comment until the announcement was made and will likely make a statement on Monday. 

Superintendent of Schools Mary Conway said the school system "certainly wishes him the best."

She added that she knows Baim, "has some professional plans in mind."

It's been a roller coaster year for Baim. The school has had a number of success stories - like the RHS creative writers hauling in numerous awards and the softball team winning a sate championship. The hockey team joined a new co-op with Coventry and Bolton and has just one loss this season. 

Despite severe heat, the Class of 2012 graduation ceremony went off smoothly. The school was also able to implement new security measures without any interruption to academics in the wake of the Newtown shootings. 

But in July, Baim received a 10-day suspension without pay - the stiffest penalty in a stringent set of disciplinary measures short of termination - in the wake of a driving under the influence charge.

Baim was charged with DUI and running a stop sign in Berlin on July 13. On July 24, the school board voted not to direct Conway to consider him for termination, but outline other means of discipline to be voted on during Tuesday's special meeting. That translated into the suspension.

His supporters seemed to vstly outnumber his detractors during the process.

Conway gave no indication Baim's resignation was the result of any ill feelings.