Letter From Laura DiMeglio

[UPDATE: Ms. DiMeglio requested her letter be removed - you can still read it at Fosters]

To the editor: I’m writing to express my strong dissatisfaction with the Oyster River School Board’s decision not to accept the nomination of Justin Campbell for HS Principal on Monday April 11 and I would ask them to please reconsider. On Wednesday, the community justifiably demanded answers from the Board, and instead of providing a strong and coherent reason, the only thing that would have been acceptable for such a controversial and unprecedented decision, the Board seemed to flounder, flirted with violating the law in its decision to go non-public, and ultimately gave little reason at all.

The reasons they did give were weak and flawed. The budget issue has been refuted by others, but the business administrator had already presented a contingency plan for the “worst case scenario” regarding a potential $632,000 shortfall that did not include postponing the hiring of a permanent principal. It is also outrageous to suggest waiting for the new Superintendent to hire the HS Principal at this point. The search process was clearly too far along. Also, the three newly elected Board members, Kach, Lane, and Turnbull, who voted against the hiring, had already stated at the candidate’s forum that they supported the hiring of a permanent principal now, NOT instituting an interim and waiting for a new Superintendent. They were each asked this question and answered clearly.

A reason not given at Wednesday night’s board meeting, but that has surfaced on the rumor mill, relates to flaws in the hiring process itself. To claim that the hiring process did not follow procedure now is irresponsible. Board members were involved in the process from the beginning and had ample opportunity to take issue. Also, the vote to reject Justin Campbell was 4-3. Three Board members did not have a problem with the process, or at least not enough of a problem to reject the candidate. Of the four that voted to reject, two, Lane and Turnbull, had been on the Board for just one month and may not understand the role of “past practice” and how it relates to policy. The hiring process was the same as had been used to hire at least two other principals and was certainly thorough and adequate. It did not differ from written policy in any substantive way.

The manner in which this important decision has been handled gives me no confidence in this Board’s ability to hire a superintendent, or to adequately represent the community.

For many, it will be no surprise that the situation in the Oyster River school district has come to this divide. Oyster River has been suffering from mistrust between members of the community and the administration for some time. While some of the concerns may have had some validity and should be addressed, nothing was so severe that it warranted the kind of treatment our administrators have been subjected to over the past few years or the suspicion that has been spread through the community by this group of citizens. While claiming to be trying to improve the district, the primary thing that has been accomplished is that they have spread so much distrust and suspicion that our district is now facing, to use the words of Benjamin Hillyard in a letter published in Fosters on April 22, “a crisis”. A crisis with the potential for disastrous long term consequences for our schools, our property values, and our children. Thank you.

Laura DiMeglio
Lee, NH