Norwich — Thames River Academy Principal Edward Derr was placed on paid administrative leave Thursday for an undisclosed reason, and school was canceled Friday to allow Superintendent Abby Dolliver to meet with staff.

Retired Fitch High School Principal Robert Bacewicz was named acting principal starting Friday, Dolliver said. Friday had been scheduled to be a school day, but Dolliver sent out an automated message Thursday evening and sent a letter home with students Thursday saying school would be canceled for a staff professional development day.

Dolliver declined to discuss any specifics about the action, saying it is a personnel matter. There is no time frame for how long Derr will be on administrative leave. She declined to call the issue "an investigation," and would not comment on whether a single incident or a longstanding issue led to her decision.

Police Chief Louis Fusaro and Dolliver both said there is no criminal investigation involving Derr.

Derr has been principal at the alternative high school since July 1, 2000. In 2006, he received the Excellence in Education Award from the Norwich branch of the NAACP for "outstanding dedication and commitment" as principal of the academy.

Derr also has been an adjunct history professor at Three Rivers Community College for the past several years, including this semester. He was not available for comment Friday. A Thames River teacher contacted Friday had no comment on the situation.

Dolliver would not comment on whether the move is related to a recent state-ordered program audit of the school's academic performance, including curriculum, programs and student achievement.

The school has among the lowest Connecticut Academic Performance Test scores in the state. With an enrollment of about 79 students, the school is designed to help struggling students avoid dropping out.

Only 25 percent of the 16 students from Thames River who took the CAPT in 2010 reached proficiency in reading; 16.7 percent of the 18 students tested reached proficiency in writing; and 27.8 percent of the 18 students tested reached proficiency in math. No students in any of those categories reached the state's higher "goal" level. In science, 18 students took the test and 33 percent reached proficiency; 5.6 percent reached goal.

The state Department of Education has contracted with the Fall River, Mass.-based Resiliency Foundation - a firm that specializes in alternative education - to conduct an audit of all programs and conditions at Thames River. The group spent much of January interviewing staff, students, administrators, parents and community members about the school.

Dolliver said a report from the consultants will be completed in about two weeks and will be made public.

Norwich school officials have been trying to address poor test scores at Thames River Academy for the past several years, at one point briefly partnering with Norwich Free Academy to run the school.

Even before the audit, school officials were working on ways to address the low performance at Thames River by boosting curriculum and extracurricular activities.

c.bessette@theday.com