SOUTH BEND — The fallout is growing over the release of South Bend School Superintendent Robert Zimmerman's recent evaluation. WSBT's news partners at the South Bend Tribune obtained a copy of the evaluation, and some say it proves the board was not justified in voting to buy out the remaining 16 months of his contract.

The South Bend Tribune has not revealed its source, or where it obtained the copy of the evaluation. But, late Wednesday afternoon, South Bend Community School Corporation spokesperson Judy Tovey confirmed that Zimmerman was shown the document, and it is a genuine, full copy of the evaluation.

She says he did not release the evaluation, and he declined to comment on it to WSBT.

The majority of the School Board also chose not to comment on the contents of the evaluation as they emerged from behind closed doors Wednesday night, saying it is a "personnel matter."

But several expressed discontent that it had been released.

"We don't know who released it," said Board President Sheila Bergeron. "I hope we find out. That was very inappropriate."

"The board did not approve releasing that," agreed Board Member Marcia Hummel. "I don't know who the individual is, but there was no board action to do that."

"It shouldn't be out there. It should not be out there," said Board Vice President Ann Rosen. "That was not meant to be a public document, and we're not going to talk about it."

Rosen, Hummel, and Bergeron all voted to buy out Zimmerman's contract at a meeting Monday night. Board members Ralph Pieniazkiewicz and Kim Barnbrook also voted in favor of the plan. Board Secretary Dawn Jones and Board Member Bill Sniadecki voted against it.

The evaluation is based on five goals set for the Superintendent at the beginning of his 3-year contract. He is currently 20 months into that contract.

The goals are as follows, as listed in the evaluation:

1. Increasing student success
2. Maintaining and improving financial health and stability
3. Creating an atmosphere of trust and confidence
4. Establishing an effective time management system
5. Building strong administrative leadership by involving the cabinet and Board

During an exclusive interview with WSBT prior to receiving his evaluation last week, Zimmerman said that he felt he had made good progress toward all of those goals, but that he was still working to achieve his maximum potential by setting a number of "sub-goals" as well.

"When you talk about meeting goals, you're somewhere within the working process," he said. "And so a lot of what we've attempted to do is work within those goals to look at the various areas."

Some board members felt so, too, but the evaluation clearly shows not all did.

One board member wrote that Zimmerman's goal of increased student success was "met and continues to be a goal."

But another wrote that "new programs were not your plans, but plans [previous Superintendent] Dr. Raymond had identified" wrote another.

The disparities continued from category to category.

One comment says "the corporation was damaged by the 'Clinton fiasco.'"

Another says Zimmerman was "handicapped from the start, and the situation was handled with grace and professionalism."

Perhaps the most telling comments in the evaluation don't fit into any category.

"You were more concerned about public relations than in leading the corporation" reads one.

"There is a belief you have made the board look bad in public" reads another.

Earlier in the day, Hummel told WSBT the evaluation doesn't reflect the whole story.

“The last evaluation is useless unless you have the first and second,” she said.

Sniadecki says he refused to sign the evaluation because "when you sign a paper like that, you're agreeing to everything in that statement."

But, during Monday's meeting, he did encourage Zimmerman to release the evaluation, saying it shows one clear thing.

"It shows that there is no reason for him to be offered a buyout by this board," he said.

Meanwhile, School Board Trustees are still moving forward with plans to replace Zimmerman. They met behind closed doors in an executive session to talk about who might be named as Interim Superintendent.

Bergeron called it a "fruitful meeting," and said the Board hoped to vote on it during a special meeting Thursday night at 7. That meeting is open to the public.

The board still has not agreed on a buyout with Zimmerman, and Bergeron said the two sides have talked about financial figures yet. The Board's attorney is still drafting a buyout proposal to present to Zimmerman. The two sides will then negotiate a monetary figure.

During WSBT's interview with Zimmerman last week, he said if the board pushed for a buyout, he wouldn't drag the process out any longer than necessary.

Zimmerman plans to finish out the week. He has two weeks of previously scheduled vacation beginning on June 9.

Click here to read the full performance evaluation of Dr. Robert Zimmerman.