Concord Superintendent Forsten, Principal Sica Placed On Leave

CONCORD, NH — The Concord Board of Education has placed both the SAU 8 superintendent and high school principal on paid administrative leave. The decision was announced by Concord Board of Education President Jennifer Patterson on Friday in robocalls, emails, and posts on social media. Donna Palley, the long-time assistant superintendent for the district, will be interim-superintendent.

"The board cannot provide any further information about these confidential personnel matters," Patterson said. "We will share more information as we are able to do so."

The decision to place both Terri Forsten, the school superintendent, and Tom Sica, the principal of Concord High School, who was already on a voluntary leave of absence, comes after two nonpublic meetings this week where board members have been analyzing the findings of an independent investigation into why Primo "Howie" Leung, a teacher at the high school, was allowed to stay in his role as a special educator for months despite allegations of inappropriate behavior and rape charges in April.

Neither Forsten nor Sica were available for comment at post time.

Darlene Gildersleeve, of the new group, Protect Concord Students Now, who co-authored the petition calling for both Forsten and Sica to be removed from employment with the district, said she was "thankful" that the board recognized that thousands of people had signed the petition.

"They have acted by taking the first step by placing her on leave," Gildersleeve emailed. "I call on the board to now hire an independent compliance officer, as St. Paul's School has, to ensure that all policies and state laws are enforced to protect the students."

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