Norwich - Thames River Academy Principal Edward Derr, who has been on administrative leave since Feb. 16, resigned Tuesday.

Superintendent Abby Dolliver said she met with Derr and school administrators' union president William Peckham, principal at Teachers Memorial Middle School, Tuesday afternoon. She said Derr agreed to resign at the end of the school year. He will remain on paid administrative leave until then.

The Board of Education accepted Derr's resignation late Tuesday after a closed-door session.

Derr's pending resignation was not discussed earlier Tuesday, during a lengthy Board of Education meeting where a state education official recommended that Derr be replaced as principal at Thames River.

At the end of the meeting, the board went into executive session to discuss Dolliver's performance goals and "negotiations." Dolliver said Derr's situation was discussed under that provision.

Derr could not be reached to comment late Tuesday. Dolliver said he will explore whether he is eligible for retirement. He started as principal of TRA in 2000.

Derr was placed on leave two weeks before school officials received a 60-page, state-funded program audit of the troubled alternative high school that strongly criticized his leadership and management. The report also faulted the Board of Education and central office administration for years of neglecting TRA and for having lower expectations for the 75 or so students who attend the school.

The report also cited examples of lax security and discipline at the school. Although the school computers have security controls, the consultants "observed incidents of students surfing sexually inappropriate websites during class time."

The group also reported hearing numerous incidents of drugs, weapons and incidents of violent behavior in the classroom.

c.bessette@theday.com