Minutes show OR superintendent buyout was not unanimous

Today, Fosters Daily Democrat published an article by reporter Roni Reino covering the June 15 Oyster River school board meeting and providing details on the interim superintendent search.

Minutes show OR superintendent buyout was not unanimous

By RONI REINO
rreino@fosters.com
Saturday, June 18, 2011

DURHAM — Minutes released from Wednesday's Oyster River School Board nonpublic session show the separation agreement between the superintendent and the board was not unanimously supported.

On Friday afternoon, Oyster River Board members released minutes saying member Krista Butts made a motion to expend funds from the unspent surplus fund balance for the purpose of implementing the mutual separation between Superintendent Howard Colter and the board, which would include legal fees and "other costs" associated with implementation.

The motion was seconded by member Jim Kach and passed on a vote of 6-1. Minutes do not indicate who voted against the motion or how much money is expected to be paid out.

There was also a motion made by member Ann Lane and seconded by Jocelyn O'Quinn to approve the mutual separation agreement between Colter and the board. That motion also passed by a 6-1 vote.

The board has also posted on the School District's website that an interim superintendent could begin working as soon as July 1.

Board members have officially posted the interim superintendent search process on the district's website.

At the June 15 meeting, the board approved that School Board Chair Henry Brackett will identify potential candidates and schedule interviews with the full board and representatives from the District's Leadership Team.

The Leadership Team is expected to include Business Administrator Sue Caswell and Director of Instruction Danielle Bulduc, according to Superintendent Howard Colter.

Colter said the Oyster River leadership team includes the superintendent, school principals, directors of instruction, the business administrator and the director of technology. Specific individuals who will be helping conduct interviews have yet to be determined.

"Given that Sue (Caswell) and Danielle (Bulduc) will be working closely with the interim superintendent, this seems like a logical and good suggestion," he wrote in an e-mail.

After interviews, at least one final candidate will be selected and a public interview will be scheduled. After the public interview, the board is expected to deliberate in a nonpublic session and then select and announce the new interim superintendent, according to the statement.

Board members outlined at the June 15 meeting what qualifications they would be looking for in a candidate.

Members said they expect a candidate will have experience as an educator and classroom instructor, prior experience as a superintendent, experience in managing change or transition, collaborative leadership skills, leadership mentoring skills, the ability to work collaboratively and support the ongoing leadership initiatives, the ability to "calm the waters" and set the stage for a successful transition to a permanent superintendent, the ability to work effectively with the board and the community, background in school district policies, the ability to facilitate the strategic planning process, and experience working in New Hampshire.

School Board members said they will continue to post information on the district's website as it become available.