DURHAM — Oyster River High School seniors who requested the School Board not participate in this year's graduation said it is the school staff who runs graduation, not the board.
In a letter dated May 20, members of the senior class Senate addressed its concern about the board participating in the ceremonies.
"The active role that the board has traditionally played in the ceremony was felt by some to be inappropriate given their feelings about the Board's relationship with the student body," the letter read. "These concerns were expressed by multiple related parties independently."
A few weeks ago class officers polled senior class members and heard a response from 95 of the students. The majority of students, 63, voted in favor of inviting the School Board to their graduation, but asking them not to participate in the ceremony. Only four students voted to keep the graduation as it has been for the past six years, while 14 voted to not invite School Board members at all and another 14 voted to ask School Board members to be sensitive to the seniors' request and attend if they wish.
"It was found by a large majority of the class that the seniors are happy to have any board member who would like to attend be present; however, the students feel no member of the board should be part of the ceremony," the letter said.
High School Principal Laura Rogers said she has heard students wish to return to an older tradition.
"The staff has always planned graduation without the input from the board," she said.
High School Policy IKF states "the staff will arrange each spring for appropriate awards and recognition programs and graduation exercises."
Senior Class President Ethan Hotchkiss said students believe this means the high school staff — not the School Board — has the right to put together graduation.
"We just want to return to a previous tradition," he said.
Before 2005, a member of the faculty would be appointed to hand out diplomas to graduating seniors. However, in 2005, there was neither a high school principal or superintendent of schools at the time of graduation and the School Board stepped up to take on the task, Hotchkiss said.
Since the seniors said the high school staff should get the final say on how graduation is run — with suggestions from the senior class — if the staff decided to ask the School Board to participate in graduation, they would accept the recommendation.
"We would have to respect their decision," Hotchkiss said.
Seniors are planning to poll their peers to look for recommendations of who they would like to nominate to hand out diplomas at the June 10 ceremony.
"We also pay for the majority of the graduation," said senior David Taylor.
For the last four years, students have raised $7,000 from fundraisers to pay for the tent where graduation is held. Taylor said their efforts to pay for graduation should be recognized.
School Board Chair Henry Brackett was scheduled to meet with senior class representatives and principal Laura Rogers, but Hotchkiss said Brackett asked to defer the meeting until after the June 1 School Board meeting.
Brackett was unavailable for comment on Thursday to explain his decision to reschedule.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Thursday, May 26, 2011
OR board chair refuses students' request to not attend graduation
By RONI REINO
rreino@fosters.com
Thursday, May 26, 2011
DURHAM — During an Oyster River Cooperative School Board meeting, Chairman Henry Brackett said he will not follow the request of the senior class to not participate in graduation, while the superintendent suggested hiring an interim principal for one year.
Community members continued to speak out against the actions the School Board has taken during its current high school principal search process. At Wednesday night's meeting, many staff members stood up to address where the current search will leave them.
Long time Oyster River teacher Lou Mroz said he is concerned where the district is headed and that the district is being portrayed publicly in a negative light due to School Board decisions. He also said the school needs a principal to keep the students and faculty happy and provide a strong learning environment.
"One of the things a principal does is create a positive environment," he said.
Durham resident Deborah Alberts praised Oyster River for doing an excellent job educating students. However, she said she is worried the School Board has deviated from policies and are not allowing the superintendent to run the hiring process of the new high school principal.
Others at the meeting said they were concerned the timeline of the search is too short. Some suggested since current principal Laura Rogers will be gone at the end of the school year, there will be no one to direct the school in the early weeks before school begins for the 2011-12 school year.
Later in the meeting, Superintendent Howard Colter suggested to the School Board to hire an interim principal.
"I think going forward in the search right now is wrong minded," he said, adding it does not seem to be the ideal time to perform a search.
Hiring now would not allow a new hire to give ample notice to their own district and current salary requirements are not competitive with the rest of New England. Currently the district would offer a salary between $95,000 and $101,000, Colter said. Also, the district has said it would request a one-year contract, and New England School Development Council (NESDEC) officials said most districts offer multiyear contracts.
Member James Kach said after hearing community comments in favor of a permanent principal, he did not feel having an interim principal would be a good idea.
An initial motion for Colter to hire an interim principal failed with a tied vote: members Ann Wright, Megan Turnbull and Krista Butts in favor and James Kach, Henry Brackett and Ann Lane opposed.
Member Jocelyn O'Quinn was not present at Wednesday night's meeting.
A second motion to authorize Colter to look for an interim principal candidate and authorize to work with NESDEC to continue the high school principal search was approved on a 4-2 vote, with Wright and Turnbull opposed.
The School Board also authorized Brackett to sign a contract with NESDEC to begin the second high school principal search on a vote of 5-1, with Wright opposed. The district has set aside $15,000 to put toward the high school principal search and for the new superintendent when Colter leaves next year.
Also at the meeting, discussion about members of the senior class having sent an e-mail to the School Board saying the current relationship between the students and the Board has led many to not want the School Board to participate as it traditionally does by handing out diplomas came up in discussion.
Brackett said the letter was a "slap in the face."
"I have a real problem with it," he said. "Students are suggesting they run a ceremony for graduation. I suggest the school administration, Howard (Colter), and the principal — and the Board — run the ceremony."
Brackett continued to say students were not following tradition — the School Board chair has traditionally signed the diplomas and handed them to graduating seniors.
"I will be passing out diplomas on stage," he said.
Before members said it was not an agenda item to discuss, co-Chair Ann Wright reminded Brackett he does not speak for the entire board.
Student representatives, High School Principal Laura Rogers and School Board representatives will be meeting this morning to discuss the issue.
Also during the meeting, Colter suggested the Board was having excessively long meetings more frequently.
"We've had meetings go until near 11 or past 11," he said. "I'm concerned about that."
Colter suggested the board might reconsider how they run meetings and look at how the lengthy meetings might be affecting decisions.
"Obviously we're tired and hungry and not doing our best thinking," he said. "At the end of the meeting there are many important items on the agenda."
He said board members may be tired and hungry by the end of the night and could be affecting important decisions the board needs to make. He also said by having such long meetings, it could adversely affect potential School Board candidates from applying if they believe the time commitment is to lengthy.
"It's hard to be motivated," he said of the potential candidates.
Worries about employees who come to these meetings and have to be ready to work the next morning also came up.
Colter suggested to help the issues, the board could consider having a limited agenda, being well-prepared for meetings and committing to meetings that are shorter, such as two hours.
rreino@fosters.com
Thursday, May 26, 2011
DURHAM — During an Oyster River Cooperative School Board meeting, Chairman Henry Brackett said he will not follow the request of the senior class to not participate in graduation, while the superintendent suggested hiring an interim principal for one year.
Community members continued to speak out against the actions the School Board has taken during its current high school principal search process. At Wednesday night's meeting, many staff members stood up to address where the current search will leave them.
Long time Oyster River teacher Lou Mroz said he is concerned where the district is headed and that the district is being portrayed publicly in a negative light due to School Board decisions. He also said the school needs a principal to keep the students and faculty happy and provide a strong learning environment.
"One of the things a principal does is create a positive environment," he said.
Durham resident Deborah Alberts praised Oyster River for doing an excellent job educating students. However, she said she is worried the School Board has deviated from policies and are not allowing the superintendent to run the hiring process of the new high school principal.
Others at the meeting said they were concerned the timeline of the search is too short. Some suggested since current principal Laura Rogers will be gone at the end of the school year, there will be no one to direct the school in the early weeks before school begins for the 2011-12 school year.
Later in the meeting, Superintendent Howard Colter suggested to the School Board to hire an interim principal.
"I think going forward in the search right now is wrong minded," he said, adding it does not seem to be the ideal time to perform a search.
Hiring now would not allow a new hire to give ample notice to their own district and current salary requirements are not competitive with the rest of New England. Currently the district would offer a salary between $95,000 and $101,000, Colter said. Also, the district has said it would request a one-year contract, and New England School Development Council (NESDEC) officials said most districts offer multiyear contracts.
Member James Kach said after hearing community comments in favor of a permanent principal, he did not feel having an interim principal would be a good idea.
An initial motion for Colter to hire an interim principal failed with a tied vote: members Ann Wright, Megan Turnbull and Krista Butts in favor and James Kach, Henry Brackett and Ann Lane opposed.
Member Jocelyn O'Quinn was not present at Wednesday night's meeting.
A second motion to authorize Colter to look for an interim principal candidate and authorize to work with NESDEC to continue the high school principal search was approved on a 4-2 vote, with Wright and Turnbull opposed.
The School Board also authorized Brackett to sign a contract with NESDEC to begin the second high school principal search on a vote of 5-1, with Wright opposed. The district has set aside $15,000 to put toward the high school principal search and for the new superintendent when Colter leaves next year.
Also at the meeting, discussion about members of the senior class having sent an e-mail to the School Board saying the current relationship between the students and the Board has led many to not want the School Board to participate as it traditionally does by handing out diplomas came up in discussion.
Brackett said the letter was a "slap in the face."
"I have a real problem with it," he said. "Students are suggesting they run a ceremony for graduation. I suggest the school administration, Howard (Colter), and the principal — and the Board — run the ceremony."
Brackett continued to say students were not following tradition — the School Board chair has traditionally signed the diplomas and handed them to graduating seniors.
"I will be passing out diplomas on stage," he said.
Before members said it was not an agenda item to discuss, co-Chair Ann Wright reminded Brackett he does not speak for the entire board.
Student representatives, High School Principal Laura Rogers and School Board representatives will be meeting this morning to discuss the issue.
Also during the meeting, Colter suggested the Board was having excessively long meetings more frequently.
"We've had meetings go until near 11 or past 11," he said. "I'm concerned about that."
Colter suggested the board might reconsider how they run meetings and look at how the lengthy meetings might be affecting decisions.
"Obviously we're tired and hungry and not doing our best thinking," he said. "At the end of the meeting there are many important items on the agenda."
He said board members may be tired and hungry by the end of the night and could be affecting important decisions the board needs to make. He also said by having such long meetings, it could adversely affect potential School Board candidates from applying if they believe the time commitment is to lengthy.
"It's hard to be motivated," he said of the potential candidates.
Worries about employees who come to these meetings and have to be ready to work the next morning also came up.
Colter suggested to help the issues, the board could consider having a limited agenda, being well-prepared for meetings and committing to meetings that are shorter, such as two hours.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Editorial in Foster's
With no disrespect intended, why would anyone apply for the position of Oyster River High School principal given the squabbling that continues among School Board members?
Who would want to put themselves in harms way of a politically divided board whose members can't even agree on the makeup of the search committee?
Oyster River residents take great pride in what they see as a quality school system. In the past that school system has drawn quality candidates.
Unfortunately, that may no longer be the case given the current infighting, refusal to hire the last nominated candidate and, now, with a salary offer the board is being told by experts is too low.
School Board members may as well figuratively shoot themselves in the foot. On second thought, they probably already have.
Who would want to put themselves in harms way of a politically divided board whose members can't even agree on the makeup of the search committee?
Oyster River residents take great pride in what they see as a quality school system. In the past that school system has drawn quality candidates.
Unfortunately, that may no longer be the case given the current infighting, refusal to hire the last nominated candidate and, now, with a salary offer the board is being told by experts is too low.
School Board members may as well figuratively shoot themselves in the foot. On second thought, they probably already have.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Editorial from John Collins
My compliments to Ms. Reino, your reporter covering recent events in Oyster River. Her article in today's edition (May 12) mentions two public comments at last night's School Board meeting critical of ORHS students. These represent the latest in a series of such remarks, at board meetings and in letters to your editor. Most in our community are very proud of these students. This is my response to their detractors.
My parents gave me a small rock (a paperweight) when I graduated from high school. On it were the words "a noble character is not a thing of chance." Three weeks ago, more than 500 noble characters walked out of the Oyster River High School and marched to the nearby SAU building to voice their disagreement with the School Board's decision to deny them a new principal. The candidate nominated by the superintendent had strong support from a talented and diverse search committee, from the high school teachers and students, and the community. Still, the Board said "no;" and then they wouldn't even tell us why!
First they fumbled through a laundry list of excuses, none of which held water, leaving us to speculate, breeding suspicion and rumors. Then they closed the book on the issue, telling us that no reason will be forthcoming; instead they'll hide behind an RSA. How transparent! Their actions were deeply troubling, insulting and embarrassing to watch. They disrespected a fine and dedicated candidate, the search committee, the Superintendent, the teachers, the students and the community.
How did the students respond? With a peaceful, orderly, organized demonstration. They showed courage, resolve, poise; they were noble. The Oyster River community is proud of you.
Oh, you have your detractors. You heard some of them at the April 27 SB meeting, calling you puppets, controlled by "Gepettos." Some claim the teachers organized the whole thing. Others echoed a letter in Foster's on April 22 that stated as fact that "the April 14 walkout was transparently led by former and ousted members of the Board." These allegations are simply not true. The people making such unfounded allegations owe the students an apology. More than that, this point of view is revealing, so telling. These people need to think that to assuage their cognitive dissonance. The schools they want would never produce independent thinking, confident, courageous, resolute noble characters like these.
But "a noble character is not a thing of chance." First, are their parents. These students were raised right. There must be many noble parents out there. With all the demands and distractions of day-to-day life it's easy to get lost in the glitter and the rouge. OR students — talk to your parents. Tell them what's going on. Tell them why you care about this so much. Remind them that they too are noble. We're gonna need them for the battles ahead. "A noble character is not a thing of chance."
Second are your teachers. They do more than teach; they also shape character. Your teachers are noble characters. Oyster River attracts noble teachers. We nurture them, we value them and we give them room to be noble. They challenge you every day to think, to question, to be better, to be noble. Put it all together and you have Oyster River, a culture that builds noble characters.
The trouble is, some on this board, and their roots in the community want to change the culture of Oyster River. That's the larger battle; the high school principal situation is just the present skirmish. Think about it - if you wanted to shift the culture of Oyster River education, where would you start? With the leadership of the schools and the district, of course. Over the past three weeks we have witnessed the board wresting control of the high school principal search process. Next target? The superintendent.
At stake is the culture of Oyster River. To be clear, the battlefield is open meetings, public sessions of the School Board, not in anyone's private lives and certainly not hiding in nonpublic session. In the weeks to come, I look forward to an open and honest debate about the culture of this district, and this community.
John Collins
Lee
My parents gave me a small rock (a paperweight) when I graduated from high school. On it were the words "a noble character is not a thing of chance." Three weeks ago, more than 500 noble characters walked out of the Oyster River High School and marched to the nearby SAU building to voice their disagreement with the School Board's decision to deny them a new principal. The candidate nominated by the superintendent had strong support from a talented and diverse search committee, from the high school teachers and students, and the community. Still, the Board said "no;" and then they wouldn't even tell us why!
First they fumbled through a laundry list of excuses, none of which held water, leaving us to speculate, breeding suspicion and rumors. Then they closed the book on the issue, telling us that no reason will be forthcoming; instead they'll hide behind an RSA. How transparent! Their actions were deeply troubling, insulting and embarrassing to watch. They disrespected a fine and dedicated candidate, the search committee, the Superintendent, the teachers, the students and the community.
How did the students respond? With a peaceful, orderly, organized demonstration. They showed courage, resolve, poise; they were noble. The Oyster River community is proud of you.
Oh, you have your detractors. You heard some of them at the April 27 SB meeting, calling you puppets, controlled by "Gepettos." Some claim the teachers organized the whole thing. Others echoed a letter in Foster's on April 22 that stated as fact that "the April 14 walkout was transparently led by former and ousted members of the Board." These allegations are simply not true. The people making such unfounded allegations owe the students an apology. More than that, this point of view is revealing, so telling. These people need to think that to assuage their cognitive dissonance. The schools they want would never produce independent thinking, confident, courageous, resolute noble characters like these.
But "a noble character is not a thing of chance." First, are their parents. These students were raised right. There must be many noble parents out there. With all the demands and distractions of day-to-day life it's easy to get lost in the glitter and the rouge. OR students — talk to your parents. Tell them what's going on. Tell them why you care about this so much. Remind them that they too are noble. We're gonna need them for the battles ahead. "A noble character is not a thing of chance."
Second are your teachers. They do more than teach; they also shape character. Your teachers are noble characters. Oyster River attracts noble teachers. We nurture them, we value them and we give them room to be noble. They challenge you every day to think, to question, to be better, to be noble. Put it all together and you have Oyster River, a culture that builds noble characters.
The trouble is, some on this board, and their roots in the community want to change the culture of Oyster River. That's the larger battle; the high school principal situation is just the present skirmish. Think about it - if you wanted to shift the culture of Oyster River education, where would you start? With the leadership of the schools and the district, of course. Over the past three weeks we have witnessed the board wresting control of the high school principal search process. Next target? The superintendent.
At stake is the culture of Oyster River. To be clear, the battlefield is open meetings, public sessions of the School Board, not in anyone's private lives and certainly not hiding in nonpublic session. In the weeks to come, I look forward to an open and honest debate about the culture of this district, and this community.
John Collins
Lee
Process of search for new ORHS principal continues
Process of search for new ORHS principal continues
By RONI REINO
rreino@fosters.com
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
DURHAM — A hiring consultant has told the district a low salary and a one-year contract would make it difficult to bring in high school principal candidates for the new search, while selected School Board members for the search committee argued which community members would be placed on the search committee.
At a meeting Tuesday at the Oyster River Cooperative School District Central Office, School Board members Henry Brackett, Ann Wright and Ann Lane, with Superintendent Howard Colter, met to discuss the next steps in the candidate search. The four are part of a core search committee selected by the School Board at the last meeting.
About 10 community members and School Board member Jocelyn O'Quinn sat in on Tuesday's meeting.
NESDEC consultant Art Betancourt spoke with the committee and said advertising could get under way as early as next week. To get a good pool of candidates, advertisements for the position should be out in the public for at least four weeks, but he suggested six.
"Any less than four weeks of float time makes it very difficult for you to get a full range of candidates," he said
Colter said the high school principal advertisement that was posted earlier this year for the first search was publicized for about a month.
Advertisements are expected to be posted online once the committee provides a candidate profile to NESDEC, the hiring consultant firm the district has decided to work with in the coming months. Final applications are expected to be accepted until mid-June, members said.
In February, the district received 44 applications for the position, but Betancourt said he wouldn't expect much more than 20 because it was almost summer.
As discussion of salary ensued, Colter said it was not publicized during the last search how much the district was willing to pay. However, Colter said since retiring high school principal Laura Rogers would have been making about $101,000 if she stayed next year, the district is expecting to offer a salary of about $95,000 to $101,000, depending on experience.
Betancourt said the salary seemed low for a New Hampshire high school principal, but after discussion, committee members agreed raising the salary would cause discussion for what other Oyster River Cooperative School District staff are being paid.
"It's a much larger discussion than what do other principals make," Colter said. "It would be a domino effect."
The district has also said it would be offering a one-year contract. Betancourt said it would be difficult to get "high quality" candidates without a longer contract.
Members also discussed concerns about who would be running the search. Previous discussions have been unclear who is in charge of the search.
Board Chair Henry Brackett said he would like to follow regulation GCCR, which states the board will determine its level of involvement with the hiring process before it commences.
"It says the board should be involved," he said of the policy at the last School Board meeting. "But it's out there for determination."
Wright brought up School Board policy BDD, which states the School Board as a whole, and individual members, will "act upon matters of employment or dismissal of school personnel only on the recommendation of the superintendent." She said the superintendent should be choosing the candidates to bring forward for interviews.
The current search process, as described by Brackett, will begin by the core search committee — Brackett, Wright, Lane and Colter — narrowing down the applications to an undetermined number. Those will then be passed along to each the community, leadership and building committees for review.
Those groups will then provide their recommendations back to the superintendent and one school board member — which has yet to be determined — for final review.
"The School Board would interview the final candidates," Brackett said. "There is an expectation there will be two different candidates."
Since the announcement the board would be asking community members to participate in the search, there have been numerous requests.
"I think we are fortunate so many people want to be on the committee," Wright said. "We have a nice representation of people."
The community group is expected to be made up of 10 community members and two students, all of which Brackett said he would like to be 18 years of age or older so they may sign confidentiality forms. Colter said he has never had search committee members sign a confidentiality form in the past.
At Tuesday's meeting, Brackett, Wright and Lane chose the members for the community committee. Members of the building committee, will be made up of teachers and the leadership team will be made up of administrators.
Thomas Newkirk, Martie Gooze, Lorna Jacobsen, Seth Fiermonti, Julie Reece, Marjorie Wolfson, Lisa Roeder, Ruth Wharton-McDonald, Jen Sayre-McKiernan and Luci Gardner were selected for the community group. Ute Luxem will be submitted as an alternative.
Each committee is expected to meet at least twice. The first time to discuss how members will evaluate candidates and a second to go through resumes.
The recommendation of the community members will be brought for approval to the School Board at the Wednesday, May 25.
By RONI REINO
rreino@fosters.com
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
DURHAM — A hiring consultant has told the district a low salary and a one-year contract would make it difficult to bring in high school principal candidates for the new search, while selected School Board members for the search committee argued which community members would be placed on the search committee.
At a meeting Tuesday at the Oyster River Cooperative School District Central Office, School Board members Henry Brackett, Ann Wright and Ann Lane, with Superintendent Howard Colter, met to discuss the next steps in the candidate search. The four are part of a core search committee selected by the School Board at the last meeting.
About 10 community members and School Board member Jocelyn O'Quinn sat in on Tuesday's meeting.
NESDEC consultant Art Betancourt spoke with the committee and said advertising could get under way as early as next week. To get a good pool of candidates, advertisements for the position should be out in the public for at least four weeks, but he suggested six.
"Any less than four weeks of float time makes it very difficult for you to get a full range of candidates," he said
Colter said the high school principal advertisement that was posted earlier this year for the first search was publicized for about a month.
Advertisements are expected to be posted online once the committee provides a candidate profile to NESDEC, the hiring consultant firm the district has decided to work with in the coming months. Final applications are expected to be accepted until mid-June, members said.
In February, the district received 44 applications for the position, but Betancourt said he wouldn't expect much more than 20 because it was almost summer.
As discussion of salary ensued, Colter said it was not publicized during the last search how much the district was willing to pay. However, Colter said since retiring high school principal Laura Rogers would have been making about $101,000 if she stayed next year, the district is expecting to offer a salary of about $95,000 to $101,000, depending on experience.
Betancourt said the salary seemed low for a New Hampshire high school principal, but after discussion, committee members agreed raising the salary would cause discussion for what other Oyster River Cooperative School District staff are being paid.
"It's a much larger discussion than what do other principals make," Colter said. "It would be a domino effect."
The district has also said it would be offering a one-year contract. Betancourt said it would be difficult to get "high quality" candidates without a longer contract.
Members also discussed concerns about who would be running the search. Previous discussions have been unclear who is in charge of the search.
Board Chair Henry Brackett said he would like to follow regulation GCCR, which states the board will determine its level of involvement with the hiring process before it commences.
"It says the board should be involved," he said of the policy at the last School Board meeting. "But it's out there for determination."
Wright brought up School Board policy BDD, which states the School Board as a whole, and individual members, will "act upon matters of employment or dismissal of school personnel only on the recommendation of the superintendent." She said the superintendent should be choosing the candidates to bring forward for interviews.
The current search process, as described by Brackett, will begin by the core search committee — Brackett, Wright, Lane and Colter — narrowing down the applications to an undetermined number. Those will then be passed along to each the community, leadership and building committees for review.
Those groups will then provide their recommendations back to the superintendent and one school board member — which has yet to be determined — for final review.
"The School Board would interview the final candidates," Brackett said. "There is an expectation there will be two different candidates."
Since the announcement the board would be asking community members to participate in the search, there have been numerous requests.
"I think we are fortunate so many people want to be on the committee," Wright said. "We have a nice representation of people."
The community group is expected to be made up of 10 community members and two students, all of which Brackett said he would like to be 18 years of age or older so they may sign confidentiality forms. Colter said he has never had search committee members sign a confidentiality form in the past.
At Tuesday's meeting, Brackett, Wright and Lane chose the members for the community committee. Members of the building committee, will be made up of teachers and the leadership team will be made up of administrators.
Thomas Newkirk, Martie Gooze, Lorna Jacobsen, Seth Fiermonti, Julie Reece, Marjorie Wolfson, Lisa Roeder, Ruth Wharton-McDonald, Jen Sayre-McKiernan and Luci Gardner were selected for the community group. Ute Luxem will be submitted as an alternative.
Each committee is expected to meet at least twice. The first time to discuss how members will evaluate candidates and a second to go through resumes.
The recommendation of the community members will be brought for approval to the School Board at the Wednesday, May 25.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
School Board loses month in Oyster River principal search after disbanding core panel
By RONI REINO rreino@fosters.com |
Friday, May 13, 2011
DURHAM — Oyster River School Board members have lost a month in their process to find a new high school principal, and are still unclear where they are in the search.
"I do want to say its been one month exactly since we had a vote on Justin Campbell," Vice Chair Ann Wright said at Wednesday night's meeting. "I don't know how long it will be until we form a search committee. We've lost time."
Board member Krista Butts said she felt the reason the last nomination did not pass was due to lack of communication from the search committee to the board.
"We did not communicate properly to our board as a whole from the search committee," she said.
She also said since the search occurred while the board was in transition during elections, it might have made some members uncomfortable with the quick decision.
In April, board members voted 4-3 against the high school principal nomination from Superintendent Howard Colter. Since then, the board had formed a core committee aimed at determining members of the next search committee.
At Wednesday's meeting, the core committee was dissolved.
After a more than four-hour meeting, which included discussion on hiring process policies and if the superintendent will indeed lead the principal search, Board Chair Henry Brackett, Vice Chair Ann Wright and member Ann Lane were nominated as members of the new search committee to find a new principal.
The nomination came after board members voiced concern they were not following a hiring policy by having the core committee. Members said they have seen some policies followed and others not.
"I'm glad this came up," said board member Jocelyn O'Quinn. "We do have policy issues on this board."
Referring the recent student walkout, O'Quinn said students were not disciplined, despite truancy policies.
Board Chair Henry Brackett said he would like to follow regulation GCCR, which states the board will determine its level of involvement with the hiring process before it commences.
"It says the board should be involved," he said of the policy. "But it's out there for determination."
However, other board members said their interpretation of the policy indicates Colter would be in charge of the search committee.
Brackett added the policy states the assistant superintendent would aid in the hiring process, but the district currently does not have anyone in that position.
Without an assistant superintendent to help promote the open position, Brackett said it would be in the best interest of the board to work with a hiring consultant, especially with the summer approaching.
Colter said he would work with a hiring consultant, if that was the intention of the board.
At the end of the meeting, it was unclear if the board would go forward with working with a hiring consultant. The board has previously stated it has looked into working with either the New Hampshire School Board Association or New England School Development Council (NESDEC).
When discussions turned to who would determine the members of the search committee, members were torn.
"I'm now at the spot that I really think it is a joint responsibility between Howard (Colter) and the board," said member James Kach.
Colter said he hoped the board would either chose the entire search committee or let him, because he felt it would be uneven.
However, Kach said he believed it would add more balance if the board selected some members and Colter chose school-related members.
"You're going to get people that only agree with you," he said. "That's not healthy. I would prefer, if I was in your position, some people that wouldn't agree with you."
Board members are now looking to have multiple separate committees that include school-related officials, teachers, members of the school board and community and students to help with the candidate search.
The board is still looking for community members who wish to serve on the community committee to aid in the hiring of the new high school principal.
Any community members interested in being a member of the high school principal search committee may send their request either by e-mail to orcsdsb@orcsd.org or by mail to 36 Coe Drive Durham, NH, 03824. Members of the previous search committee may reapply.
Wright said the board has received at least five letters requesting to join the committee.
Brackett, Wright and Lane are planned to meet next week. Tentatively, the selected search committee board members have said it will be meeting on Tuesday, May 17, at 11:30 a.m. at the District's Central office at 36 Coe Drive to discuss the next steps.
Members have had multiple discussions as to whether Colter or the board would be directing the high school principal search.
"I see it not as my committee, but their committee," Colter said of the selected board members.
He added since the board chose the members, they would run that specific group.
"I do want to say its been one month exactly since we had a vote on Justin Campbell," Vice Chair Ann Wright said at Wednesday night's meeting. "I don't know how long it will be until we form a search committee. We've lost time."
Board member Krista Butts said she felt the reason the last nomination did not pass was due to lack of communication from the search committee to the board.
"We did not communicate properly to our board as a whole from the search committee," she said.
She also said since the search occurred while the board was in transition during elections, it might have made some members uncomfortable with the quick decision.
In April, board members voted 4-3 against the high school principal nomination from Superintendent Howard Colter. Since then, the board had formed a core committee aimed at determining members of the next search committee.
At Wednesday's meeting, the core committee was dissolved.
After a more than four-hour meeting, which included discussion on hiring process policies and if the superintendent will indeed lead the principal search, Board Chair Henry Brackett, Vice Chair Ann Wright and member Ann Lane were nominated as members of the new search committee to find a new principal.
The nomination came after board members voiced concern they were not following a hiring policy by having the core committee. Members said they have seen some policies followed and others not.
"I'm glad this came up," said board member Jocelyn O'Quinn. "We do have policy issues on this board."
Referring the recent student walkout, O'Quinn said students were not disciplined, despite truancy policies.
Board Chair Henry Brackett said he would like to follow regulation GCCR, which states the board will determine its level of involvement with the hiring process before it commences.
"It says the board should be involved," he said of the policy. "But it's out there for determination."
However, other board members said their interpretation of the policy indicates Colter would be in charge of the search committee.
Brackett added the policy states the assistant superintendent would aid in the hiring process, but the district currently does not have anyone in that position.
Without an assistant superintendent to help promote the open position, Brackett said it would be in the best interest of the board to work with a hiring consultant, especially with the summer approaching.
Colter said he would work with a hiring consultant, if that was the intention of the board.
At the end of the meeting, it was unclear if the board would go forward with working with a hiring consultant. The board has previously stated it has looked into working with either the New Hampshire School Board Association or New England School Development Council (NESDEC).
When discussions turned to who would determine the members of the search committee, members were torn.
"I'm now at the spot that I really think it is a joint responsibility between Howard (Colter) and the board," said member James Kach.
Colter said he hoped the board would either chose the entire search committee or let him, because he felt it would be uneven.
However, Kach said he believed it would add more balance if the board selected some members and Colter chose school-related members.
"You're going to get people that only agree with you," he said. "That's not healthy. I would prefer, if I was in your position, some people that wouldn't agree with you."
Board members are now looking to have multiple separate committees that include school-related officials, teachers, members of the school board and community and students to help with the candidate search.
The board is still looking for community members who wish to serve on the community committee to aid in the hiring of the new high school principal.
Any community members interested in being a member of the high school principal search committee may send their request either by e-mail to orcsdsb@orcsd.org or by mail to 36 Coe Drive Durham, NH, 03824. Members of the previous search committee may reapply.
Wright said the board has received at least five letters requesting to join the committee.
Brackett, Wright and Lane are planned to meet next week. Tentatively, the selected search committee board members have said it will be meeting on Tuesday, May 17, at 11:30 a.m. at the District's Central office at 36 Coe Drive to discuss the next steps.
Members have had multiple discussions as to whether Colter or the board would be directing the high school principal search.
"I see it not as my committee, but their committee," Colter said of the selected board members.
He added since the board chose the members, they would run that specific group.
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Core Committee Dissolved
By RONI REINO
rreino@fosters.com
rreino@fosters.com
Thursday, May 12, 2011
DURHAM — A core committee that was created to help form a search committee to find a new high school principal was dissolved at Wednesday night's School Board meeting.
After a more than four-hour meeting, which included discussion on hiring process policies and if the superintendent will indeed lead the principal search, Board Chair Henry Brackett, Vice Chair Ann Wright and member Ann Lane were nominated as members of the search committee to find a new principal.
The nomination came after board members voiced concern they were not following hiring policy by having the core committee. Members said they have seen some policies followed and others not.
"I'm glad this came up," said board member Jocelyn O'Quinn. "We do have policy issue on this board."
Referring the recent student walkout where no students were disciplined, O'Quinn said students were not disciplined, despite truancy policies.
Wright cited policies, stating it is the superintendent of schools who should be responsible for hiring a new principal, despite a district regulation that says the School Board can determine its level of involvement prior to a hiring process.
"It's not up to the board, it's not up to the hiring committee, it's not up to the core committee," Wright said.
After two failed votes on the proposed make up of the search committee, members spoke on following policy, stating they would have to form multiple separate committees made up of community members, building personnel, administration, the superintendent and school board members.
School Board members are still looking for community members who wish to serve on the community committee to aid in the hiring of the new high school principal.
Any community members interested in being a member of the high school principal search committee may send their request either by e-mail to orcsdsb@orcsd.org or by mail to 36 Coe Drive Durham, NH, 03824. Members of the previous search committee may reapply.
Wright said the School Board has received at least five letters requesting to join the new high school principal search committee.
Also during public comment, one community member said they were disappointed in the "sense of entitlement" students from the Oyster River School District felt, stating they were out of line at the April 27 meeting where dozens of students stood up to speak against the School Board.
Durham resident Luci Gardner also said she was upset at how students pointed their fingers at School Board members during that public comment session and asked them to change their vote to not nominate a new principal.
She said the students did not understand the process for the candidate search and she believed the board voted properly.
"I trust they did not reject him for any prejudicial or unjust reason," she said.
After a more than four-hour meeting, which included discussion on hiring process policies and if the superintendent will indeed lead the principal search, Board Chair Henry Brackett, Vice Chair Ann Wright and member Ann Lane were nominated as members of the search committee to find a new principal.
The nomination came after board members voiced concern they were not following hiring policy by having the core committee. Members said they have seen some policies followed and others not.
"I'm glad this came up," said board member Jocelyn O'Quinn. "We do have policy issue on this board."
Referring the recent student walkout where no students were disciplined, O'Quinn said students were not disciplined, despite truancy policies.
Wright cited policies, stating it is the superintendent of schools who should be responsible for hiring a new principal, despite a district regulation that says the School Board can determine its level of involvement prior to a hiring process.
"It's not up to the board, it's not up to the hiring committee, it's not up to the core committee," Wright said.
After two failed votes on the proposed make up of the search committee, members spoke on following policy, stating they would have to form multiple separate committees made up of community members, building personnel, administration, the superintendent and school board members.
School Board members are still looking for community members who wish to serve on the community committee to aid in the hiring of the new high school principal.
Any community members interested in being a member of the high school principal search committee may send their request either by e-mail to orcsdsb@orcsd.org or by mail to 36 Coe Drive Durham, NH, 03824. Members of the previous search committee may reapply.
Wright said the School Board has received at least five letters requesting to join the new high school principal search committee.
Also during public comment, one community member said they were disappointed in the "sense of entitlement" students from the Oyster River School District felt, stating they were out of line at the April 27 meeting where dozens of students stood up to speak against the School Board.
Durham resident Luci Gardner also said she was upset at how students pointed their fingers at School Board members during that public comment session and asked them to change their vote to not nominate a new principal.
She said the students did not understand the process for the candidate search and she believed the board voted properly.
"I trust they did not reject him for any prejudicial or unjust reason," she said.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Letter from JoAnn Portalupi - former school board member
To the editor: Why does the Oyster River community need to hire an expert, to the tune of $15k or more, to inform them of best search practice when we have a well paid administrator with close to 30 years experience of leading successful searches?
And why, as some have hinted, is it so necessary to hire a principal with experience, if the board doesn't value the experience on hand?
Why has the board still not given a cogent reason for rejecting the nominated candidate? If the board majority felt he was not right for the district, say so. And then, please tell us what you are looking for in the next principal. The community has a right to know and to respond with ideas of their own.
Why did the board, at the April 27 meeting, deliberate and decide how to proceed with a new search before listening to comments from the 400 community members who came out to share their thoughts and concerns?
And why did the Board, after spending two hours on the aforementioned discussion, attempt to grant only one hour for public comment in return. At 3 minutes apiece, as requested, were you really only interested in hearing from 20 of the 400 in the audience?
Please, help us understand.
JoAnn Portalupi
Lee
And why, as some have hinted, is it so necessary to hire a principal with experience, if the board doesn't value the experience on hand?
Why has the board still not given a cogent reason for rejecting the nominated candidate? If the board majority felt he was not right for the district, say so. And then, please tell us what you are looking for in the next principal. The community has a right to know and to respond with ideas of their own.
Why did the board, at the April 27 meeting, deliberate and decide how to proceed with a new search before listening to comments from the 400 community members who came out to share their thoughts and concerns?
And why did the Board, after spending two hours on the aforementioned discussion, attempt to grant only one hour for public comment in return. At 3 minutes apiece, as requested, were you really only interested in hearing from 20 of the 400 in the audience?
Please, help us understand.
JoAnn Portalupi
Lee
First Things First for Oyster River
Editorial from Foster's...
At a meeting today, the Oyster River School Board is scheduled to hear suggestions on working with a consultant to find a new high school principal. As a precursor, discussions took place on Monday as to the makeup of a new search committee.
All this comes on the heels of a recent vote by the Oyster River School Board turning down the nomination of a candidate who had already been vetted in similar fashion.
Before the School Board moves much further in restarting the interview/hiring process, some plans should be made to explain in exacting detail why the last attempt at hiring a new principal failed.
To date, there have been dribs and drabs in the way of explanations coming from the School Board, given that the real answers lie hidden in last month's nonpublic session.
Assembling what has become available since then, it appears board members were unhappy with the contract terms requested by or offered to the nominee. More recently, indications are that Superintendent Howard Colter may have been rushed (for reasons unknown) in making the nomination.
Other possible answers have included concerns over state funding, despite the need for a principal regardless of state aid. There has also been speculation that infighting among board members over the past few years has found its way to the current board.
Regardless of the reasons for turning down the superintendent's nominee last month, the only way a new effort is going to be successful is if the Oyster River School Board has an open and frank discussion with the new search committee.
Exactly what are the contract terms the board is willing to accept? How much state funding is enough? What will it take to obtain a clear vote to hire a new principal? Essentially, they need to explain what went wrong last time.
It makes no sense for volunteer members of the community and school staff to spend countless hours only to find their work trashed at the eleventh hour.
Additionally, it will be a waste of taxpayer money publicizing the vacancy and recruiting candidates if the School Board has not made its intentions and motivation abundantly clear beforehand.
All this underscores the need for the School Board to clear the air. Unlike claims last month that argued the decision could stay behind closed doors due to the personnel exception in the state's Right to Know law, there is no loophole that will allow the board to give the new search committee clandestine instructions.
Such secretive behavior is also counterproductive and may dissuade well-qualified candidates who refuse to deal with the politics of the Oyster River School Board.
At a meeting today, the Oyster River School Board is scheduled to hear suggestions on working with a consultant to find a new high school principal. As a precursor, discussions took place on Monday as to the makeup of a new search committee.
All this comes on the heels of a recent vote by the Oyster River School Board turning down the nomination of a candidate who had already been vetted in similar fashion.
Before the School Board moves much further in restarting the interview/hiring process, some plans should be made to explain in exacting detail why the last attempt at hiring a new principal failed.
To date, there have been dribs and drabs in the way of explanations coming from the School Board, given that the real answers lie hidden in last month's nonpublic session.
Assembling what has become available since then, it appears board members were unhappy with the contract terms requested by or offered to the nominee. More recently, indications are that Superintendent Howard Colter may have been rushed (for reasons unknown) in making the nomination.
Other possible answers have included concerns over state funding, despite the need for a principal regardless of state aid. There has also been speculation that infighting among board members over the past few years has found its way to the current board.
Regardless of the reasons for turning down the superintendent's nominee last month, the only way a new effort is going to be successful is if the Oyster River School Board has an open and frank discussion with the new search committee.
Exactly what are the contract terms the board is willing to accept? How much state funding is enough? What will it take to obtain a clear vote to hire a new principal? Essentially, they need to explain what went wrong last time.
It makes no sense for volunteer members of the community and school staff to spend countless hours only to find their work trashed at the eleventh hour.
Additionally, it will be a waste of taxpayer money publicizing the vacancy and recruiting candidates if the School Board has not made its intentions and motivation abundantly clear beforehand.
All this underscores the need for the School Board to clear the air. Unlike claims last month that argued the decision could stay behind closed doors due to the personnel exception in the state's Right to Know law, there is no loophole that will allow the board to give the new search committee clandestine instructions.
Such secretive behavior is also counterproductive and may dissuade well-qualified candidates who refuse to deal with the politics of the Oyster River School Board.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
School Board will hear suggestions Wed. for ORHS principal search
By RONI REINO rreino@fosters.com |
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
DURHAM — Oyster River School Board members will hear on Wednesday suggestions to work with a hiring consultant for the high school principal search.
During the beginning of the Monday Core Committee meeting, board members made an exception to open the meeting up for public. High School Senior Class President Ethan Hotchkiss asked the committee to reconsider allowing the student representative on the high school principal search committee to vote.
"It was suggested one non-voting student be on the search committee," he said. "I should think that we've proved well enough of our intent that we should have a vote."
At the last Core Committee meeting, member Henry Brackett had suggested the student member have input for a new principal, but no vote. After hearing response from community members, he said he had reconsidered his previous position.
"I think the students with the council that is currently in place would pick a good representative," he said.
After some discussion and suggestions, the committee determined it would support a voting student member on the search committee. With suggestions from Brackett, a proposed makeup for the search committee might consist of three regular high school teachers, a guidance teacher, a special-education teacher, an administrator, a principal, a student, two school board members and five or six community members.
"I tried to go with a smaller committee," Brackett said. "But I've decided maybe the larger committee wouldn't eat up a lot of time because the consultant would help speed things up."
The first high school principal search committee had consisted of 15 community and district related members.
The Core Committee agreed to suggest the School Board would recommend the two board members and six community members, the high school student council would suggest the student representative and Superintendent Howard Colter would appoint the five teachers, principal and administrator.
"It will be Howard's (Colter) committee," Brackett said. "But I think we have some responsibility to help structure the committee."
Committee Member Krista Butts said she was hoping to see representation from each grade level at the high school, suggesting four regular teachers instead of three, after which Brackett said he felt the staff would be able to represent the entire school.
After hearing how many members Brackett was suggesting, committee member Ann Lane agreed it was a good idea.
"I think an important factor is that we are approaching the summer and there will be people with conflicts at time," she said. "So if people have to miss meetings, there will still be a good representation."
The group is also expected to suggest to the School Board to work with a hiring committee. Members are still waiting to hear a bid from the New Hampshire School Board Association and have already received a recommended fee of $5,176 for assisting the district with publicizing the vacancy and recruiting candidates.
The Core Committee is also suggesting the search committee look for candidates with experience as a principal or as an assistant principal with budgeting experience.
Butts recommended during the selection process that after the final interviews potential candidates have with the School Board, there is a 24-hour period between deliberation and receiving Colter's recommendation. Her suggestion comes after she said she felt rushed during the last principal search process.
"Everyone else has had time to think about it," Butts said. "We should also have time to think about it."
Any community members interested in being a member of the high school principal search committee may send their request either by e-mail to orcsdsb@orcsd.org or by mail to 36 Coe Dr. Durham, NH, 03824. Members of the previous search committee may reapply.
During the beginning of the Monday Core Committee meeting, board members made an exception to open the meeting up for public. High School Senior Class President Ethan Hotchkiss asked the committee to reconsider allowing the student representative on the high school principal search committee to vote.
"It was suggested one non-voting student be on the search committee," he said. "I should think that we've proved well enough of our intent that we should have a vote."
At the last Core Committee meeting, member Henry Brackett had suggested the student member have input for a new principal, but no vote. After hearing response from community members, he said he had reconsidered his previous position.
"I think the students with the council that is currently in place would pick a good representative," he said.
After some discussion and suggestions, the committee determined it would support a voting student member on the search committee. With suggestions from Brackett, a proposed makeup for the search committee might consist of three regular high school teachers, a guidance teacher, a special-education teacher, an administrator, a principal, a student, two school board members and five or six community members.
"I tried to go with a smaller committee," Brackett said. "But I've decided maybe the larger committee wouldn't eat up a lot of time because the consultant would help speed things up."
The first high school principal search committee had consisted of 15 community and district related members.
The Core Committee agreed to suggest the School Board would recommend the two board members and six community members, the high school student council would suggest the student representative and Superintendent Howard Colter would appoint the five teachers, principal and administrator.
"It will be Howard's (Colter) committee," Brackett said. "But I think we have some responsibility to help structure the committee."
Committee Member Krista Butts said she was hoping to see representation from each grade level at the high school, suggesting four regular teachers instead of three, after which Brackett said he felt the staff would be able to represent the entire school.
After hearing how many members Brackett was suggesting, committee member Ann Lane agreed it was a good idea.
"I think an important factor is that we are approaching the summer and there will be people with conflicts at time," she said. "So if people have to miss meetings, there will still be a good representation."
The group is also expected to suggest to the School Board to work with a hiring committee. Members are still waiting to hear a bid from the New Hampshire School Board Association and have already received a recommended fee of $5,176 for assisting the district with publicizing the vacancy and recruiting candidates.
The Core Committee is also suggesting the search committee look for candidates with experience as a principal or as an assistant principal with budgeting experience.
Butts recommended during the selection process that after the final interviews potential candidates have with the School Board, there is a 24-hour period between deliberation and receiving Colter's recommendation. Her suggestion comes after she said she felt rushed during the last principal search process.
"Everyone else has had time to think about it," Butts said. "We should also have time to think about it."
Any community members interested in being a member of the high school principal search committee may send their request either by e-mail to orcsdsb@orcsd.org or by mail to 36 Coe Dr. Durham, NH, 03824. Members of the previous search committee may reapply.
Friday, May 6, 2011
Core group discusses OR principal search committee make up
By RONI REINO
rreino@fosters.com
Friday, May 6, 2011
DURHAM — Oyster River School District Core Committee members are expected to present next week what type of high school search committee it wants.
At a Thursday afternoon Core Committee meeting, members discussed who would make up the search committee for the new high school principal and if they should hire a consultant to help with the selection process.
Core Committee members include School Board Chair Henry Brackett, Superintendent Howard Colter and School Board members Ann Lane and Krista Butts.
When discussing the possible make up of the new search committee, Colter said he'd like to see a fair amount of school staff selected, suggesting at least one teacher from each grade level be represented.
Brackett suggested the search committee be comprised of five teachers, two administrators, two school board members, possibly two community members, and one non-voting student.
If there was only one community member, Brackett suggested the student might vote with the committee.
"I'd like to see a search committee that is smaller than 15," he said, referring to the previous search committee.
The Oyster River School District may also work with a hiring consultant and has already reached out for bids from New England School Development Council (NESDEC) and the New Hampshire School Board Association. They are expected to find a third firm to ask for a bid.
In a letter dated May 4 from NESDEC Executive Director Arthur L. Bettencourt, School Board members and Colter were presented a suggested search process where NESDEC would help create a timeline for the search, develop a job description, publicize the vacancy and help with the candidate recruitment process.
The letter also indicated a proposed fee of $5,176 for assisting the district with publicizing the vacancy and recruiting candidates. It also includes secretarial and clerical services. There is an additional $2,540 for photocopying, telephone, postage consultant travel expenses and consumable supplies.
Optional additional expenses include a search brochure ($850), a communitywide needs assessment ($365) and a workshop for the interview and selection process ($950).
Members are still waiting for an estimate from the New Hampshire School Board Association.
Butts said she was leaning toward working with the New Hampshire School Board Association, adding the organization has worked well with the district in the past.
"It's important we have someone who knows New Hampshire well," she said.
The committee has yet to make any decisions and is expected to make a recommendation to the School Board next week.
Members will meet again at 12:15 p.m. on Monday in the Oyster River School District Central Office at 36 Coe Drive to further discuss the make up of the search committee.
The committee is expected to present its recommendation at the School Board meeting on Wednesday, April 11.
rreino@fosters.com
Friday, May 6, 2011
DURHAM — Oyster River School District Core Committee members are expected to present next week what type of high school search committee it wants.
At a Thursday afternoon Core Committee meeting, members discussed who would make up the search committee for the new high school principal and if they should hire a consultant to help with the selection process.
Core Committee members include School Board Chair Henry Brackett, Superintendent Howard Colter and School Board members Ann Lane and Krista Butts.
When discussing the possible make up of the new search committee, Colter said he'd like to see a fair amount of school staff selected, suggesting at least one teacher from each grade level be represented.
Brackett suggested the search committee be comprised of five teachers, two administrators, two school board members, possibly two community members, and one non-voting student.
If there was only one community member, Brackett suggested the student might vote with the committee.
"I'd like to see a search committee that is smaller than 15," he said, referring to the previous search committee.
The Oyster River School District may also work with a hiring consultant and has already reached out for bids from New England School Development Council (NESDEC) and the New Hampshire School Board Association. They are expected to find a third firm to ask for a bid.
In a letter dated May 4 from NESDEC Executive Director Arthur L. Bettencourt, School Board members and Colter were presented a suggested search process where NESDEC would help create a timeline for the search, develop a job description, publicize the vacancy and help with the candidate recruitment process.
The letter also indicated a proposed fee of $5,176 for assisting the district with publicizing the vacancy and recruiting candidates. It also includes secretarial and clerical services. There is an additional $2,540 for photocopying, telephone, postage consultant travel expenses and consumable supplies.
Optional additional expenses include a search brochure ($850), a communitywide needs assessment ($365) and a workshop for the interview and selection process ($950).
Members are still waiting for an estimate from the New Hampshire School Board Association.
Butts said she was leaning toward working with the New Hampshire School Board Association, adding the organization has worked well with the district in the past.
"It's important we have someone who knows New Hampshire well," she said.
The committee has yet to make any decisions and is expected to make a recommendation to the School Board next week.
Members will meet again at 12:15 p.m. on Monday in the Oyster River School District Central Office at 36 Coe Drive to further discuss the make up of the search committee.
The committee is expected to present its recommendation at the School Board meeting on Wednesday, April 11.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
OR School Board, Colter to meet on principal search
Go Mobile: http://mobile.fosters.com
By RONI REINO
rreino@fosters.com
Thursday, May 5, 2011
DURHAM — Oyster River School Board members and Superintendent Howard Colter are expected to meet during a public meeting today at 4 p.m.
This "core committee" was created at the April 27 school board meeting with the intent to help designate a new high school principal search committee after members rejected the superintendent's nomination in early April.
For two months, 15 members of the high school principal search committee sifted through 44 applications and by early April, had narrowed the field down to two final candidates.
Board members have said they are considering creating a new search committee and provide them with direction on how to select a high school candidate.
In a statement, board members said their decision not to select the superintendent's principal nomination was due to "uncertainty about pending state budget cuts and the impact of the Superintendent's departure in June 2012."
School Board Chair Henry Brackett and members Ann Lane and Megan Turnbull will join Colter on the core committee. The group will select members of the search committee, but have yet to say whether the possible pending budget cuts will affect their decision to select a principal for the coming school year.
Core Committee members are expected to work with a hiring consultant to determine who should be selecting candidates for the high school principal and provide direction to the process.
An e-mail dated April 20 from Brackett and Vice Chair Ann Wright said the board would ensure a principal would be in place for the 2011/2012 school year. Current principal Laura Rogers will be leaving at the end of the year.
Today's public meeting will be held at the Oyster River School District Central Office at 36 Coe Drive.
By RONI REINO
rreino@fosters.com
Thursday, May 5, 2011
DURHAM — Oyster River School Board members and Superintendent Howard Colter are expected to meet during a public meeting today at 4 p.m.
This "core committee" was created at the April 27 school board meeting with the intent to help designate a new high school principal search committee after members rejected the superintendent's nomination in early April.
For two months, 15 members of the high school principal search committee sifted through 44 applications and by early April, had narrowed the field down to two final candidates.
Board members have said they are considering creating a new search committee and provide them with direction on how to select a high school candidate.
In a statement, board members said their decision not to select the superintendent's principal nomination was due to "uncertainty about pending state budget cuts and the impact of the Superintendent's departure in June 2012."
School Board Chair Henry Brackett and members Ann Lane and Megan Turnbull will join Colter on the core committee. The group will select members of the search committee, but have yet to say whether the possible pending budget cuts will affect their decision to select a principal for the coming school year.
Core Committee members are expected to work with a hiring consultant to determine who should be selecting candidates for the high school principal and provide direction to the process.
An e-mail dated April 20 from Brackett and Vice Chair Ann Wright said the board would ensure a principal would be in place for the 2011/2012 school year. Current principal Laura Rogers will be leaving at the end of the year.
Today's public meeting will be held at the Oyster River School District Central Office at 36 Coe Drive.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Building Principal Policy GCC-R
Below is the school board policy GCC-R found here. I cannot find the other procedure eluded to by the Superintendent at the April 27th meeting. All school board policies can be found on the ORCSD website. However, if this policy was retired, there is no mention of it.
Building Principals
The board will determine its level of involvement prior to the beginning of a search. The following are procedures for the recruitment and election of principals in the Oyster River Cooperative School District.
1. The assistant superintendent will advertise available position(s) with state employment offices, selected colleges and universities, the district office and local school buildings, and in selected national, state and regional print and/or electronic media, when appropriate, within two weeks of a verified vacancy.
2. The superintendent, assistant superintendent, and representative(s) of the board will screen applications, advise those from whom references and placement papers are requested, and identify candidates to be invited for interviews.
3. Interviews will be scheduled as follows:*
a. Building committee
b. Parent/community committee (including student representative(s) for high school principal recruitment only)
c. Leadership Team of central office administration/district principals (less superintendent)
d. Superintendent, with a representative of the board
4. An on-site visitation committee will observe final candidates in their school community, whenever practicable. Composition of a site visitation committee will be determined by the superintendent or his/her designee, in consultation with the board.
5. The school board will:
a. Interview the finalist candidates. It is expected that there will be at least two finalists unless there are extenuating circumstances.
b. Receive verbal report(s) of the administrative committee, building committee, parent/community committee and student committee, as appropriate.
c. Deliberate the report(s) with the superintendent.
6. The superintendent of schools will nominate a candidate for and will provide the board with backup rationale supporting the nomination. Such information will be provided prior to the meeting.
7. The school board will elect or reject the nominated candidate.
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