The Wilton-Lyndeborough School Board plan to interview finalists for a new interim elementary school principal Tuesday.
The elementary principal in the district takes charge of both Lyndeborough Central School, which houses pre-school and kindergarten, and Florence Rideout Elementary School. Former Principal Tim O’Connell resigned from the position in July to take a position as principal at Jacques Memorial Elementary School in Milford.
On July 18, the School Board decided to move forward with filling the position with an interim position. If hired, the finalist would fill the position for a year to allow a more comprehensive search to begin in the spring for a permanent replacement, Superintendent Bryan Lane said Wednesday.
“The person filling the position will be welcome to apply, but is not guaranteed the job,” Lane said.
O’Connell’s contract for the 2019-20 school year included a $94,000 salary. The district will make an offer to an interim position holder based on experience following negotiations.
A committee appointed by the School Board has conducted preliminary interviews with five candidates on Monday, Lane said, and he is completing the final reference checks on potential finalists.
The School Board plans to interview the two finalists and allow the community to meet them in a public meet-and-greet on Tuesday.
In January, more than 80 residents turned up to a school board meeting in support of O’Connell after hearing rumors he had been told his contract would not be renewed this year.
The district did ultimately renew O’Connell’s contract, but he took a new position in Milford over the summer anyway.
John Clark, a first-year member of the School Board, spoke in support of O’Connell as a member of the public at that January meeting.
“I’m sad to see Mr. O’Connell go. I wish him the best. We appreciate the service he gave to the community and hope he has a fantastic experience in his new position,” Clark said Monday.
Adam Lavallee, another newly elected official on the board who spoke in favor of O’Connell as a member of the public, said despite his contract renewal and the show of public support, he was unsurprised by O’Connell’s resignation. In particular, he criticized Superintendent Bryan Lane’s handling of the contract situation.
“Any normal human being is not going to stay around to work for someone who doesn’t want you, and of course he didn’t,” Lavallee said, of O’Connell’s resignation. “The elementary school improved so much under Tim. He’s a good and fair person.”
In a letter to the community dated July 12, O’Connell called the move a “difficult decision.”
“I want to thank you all for your support throughout the years. You have embraced the changes that were put forward. You have championed our school’s needs,” O’Connell wrote. “It is with eternal gratitude that I thank you for making Florence Rideout and Lyndeborough Central School amazing school communities. This is truly something that we have done together!”