Multiple parents and taxpayers are calling into question a recent decision by the Mascenic School Board not to renew contracts with High School Principal Tom Marshall and Vice Principal Matt Underwood. Some are even asking for reconsideration of the issue.
The district began a search for new leaders last month, after not renewing contracts with Marshall and Underwood. Since then, some parents have questioned the decision and started an online petition to have the School Board reconsider its decision not to renew Marshall.
“He’s the most visible principal we’ve had in a long time, in that he comes to most of our sports games and community events, and that’s what I’m looking for in a principal in our community,” said Carolyn Cormier of New Ipswich.
During a School Board meeting Monday, Kristen Stauffeneker of New Ipswich presented a petition to the board signed by 109 Mascenic High School students – more than a quarter of the school’s student population. The petition asks that the board and superintendent reconsider its decision to not renew Marshall’s contract. A similar petition, both in print and online, is circulating among parents of the district, and will also be turned over to the board, according to Stauffeneker.
Julie Howard of New Ipswich attended the meeting and attempted to make a public comment regarding the non-renewal of Marshall, but she was told by School Board Chair Jeff Salmonson that the board would not be taking any comment on that matter, or any matters not on the board’s agenda.
While several residents questioned the public comment process, Salmonson told them to either email the board as a whole, which would then discuss the email and respond at an ensuing board meeting, or follow the chain of command, which would be to approach the building principal, then the superintendent and then the board, or to approach their town’s individual representative with issues.
The board did not allow any further questions regarding Marshall’s position.
“It’s puzzling,” said Penny Culliton, an English teacher at Mascenic, of Marshall’s non-renewal. “I thought that we had a good year. I would have liked to have seen what his potential could have been in another year, but it just didn’t work out that way.”
“The entire humanities department was completely blindsided,” said English teacher Corrine Joly. “It’s really baffling. When we started the interviewing process last year, Tom Marshall was the one I wanted [for the position of principal.] I was very impressed with him and I think he has been good in the job. I don’t understand why he wasn’t renewed.”
Marshall, who was hired last June, replaced Thomas Kelly, who was also in the position a short time – only two years – before moving to the SAU office as the director of student support services.
Underwood also took on his job last year; he was hired in March.
Parents and residents also took to social media last week, organizing a community meeting to discuss the state of the district and in particular a high turnover rate.
“While I recognize that I’m not privy to all the relevant information in Mr. Marshall’s situation, my personal past experience in the district leads me to believe that he could be the latest victim of the unilateral decision making environment currently present in our school district,” said Cormier. “Sadly, the culture of the Mascenic School District community seems to be deteriorating, in part due to the extremely high turnover rate in administrators and teachers during the past three years.”
Ashley Saari can be reached at 924-7172 ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript. She’s on Twitter @AshleySaariMLT.