Will There Be Chaos on the Superintendent Vote?

Girard at Large has learned board may ask Brennan to stay another year

 

MANCHESTER, NH  MARCH 26, 2013–5:15 PM  Girard at Large has learned that mischievous things may be afoot at tonight’s meeting of the Manchester Board of School Committee at which it is expected to elect a new superintendent of schools.According to our sources, there may be a motion to dismiss the three finalists selected to succeed Dr. Thomas Brennan as Manchester’s Superintendent of Schools.  Girard at Large has been told that there is a concern among some board members that the finalists have insufficient experience with a district as large and “political” as Manchester.  Girard at Large has also been told that the three finalists represent the “best of what was left” after several “leading candidates” withdrew to take other positions with better compensation packages.

Included in the motion would be a request that Brennan to stay on as superintendent for another year while the city continues it’s various strategic planning, academic audit and redistricting efforts and conducts another search for a replacement.

In recent conversations with Girard at Large, Superintendent Search Committee Chairman Ted Rokas declined to comment on the questions regarding the departure of candidates from the field saying only that he believes the committee selected the very best candidates from the pool of the applicants.  When asked today about the information gathered from our sources, he said he’d not heard that information.

At least one member of the school board, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that there’d be scuttlebut to that affect.  Mayoral Assistant Samantha Piatt said that she’d not heard this information.

Rumors continue to circulate that former West High Principal and Manchester Mayor Bob Baines will be offered the position on at least an interim basis.  Baines has told Girard at Large he is flattered, but not interested.

Girard at Large will be present at the meeting of tonight’s school board meeting, which is expected to be lengthy, and will report details as soon as they are available.