School Board Clarifies 'Letter Of Reference' For Forsten, Sica

CONCORD, NH — Any Concord residents hoping to receive answers from two terminated school district employees for how and why a high school teacher accused multiple times of inappropriate behavior who was later arrested on rape charges in another state will probably be disappointed since the severance agreements effectively put a gag order on both of them. As part of resignation packages after agreeing to not fight their terminations, former School Superintendent Terri Forsten and former Concord High School Principal Tom Sica signed agreements enforcing "ongoing duty as to confidentiality" on federal, state, personal data privacy, and NH RSA 91-A right-to-know law exemptions. According to the agreements signed earlier this month, both Forsten and Sica agreed to "maintain the confidentiality of the district's data, personnel and student record information."

The provision effectively puts a gag order on either speaking to the public or the press, even in the form of an apology to students or parents of students, or an explanation of their decision-making thoughts about the Primo "Howie" Leung case or the decision to suspend Ana Goble five years ago when she raised issues about Leung's inappropriate behavior at Rundlett Middle School.

Leung was arrested in April and faces trial next year on child rape charges in Massachusetts.

Both Forsten and Sica could lose their severance health care package or be liable for potential lawsuits by the district if they violate the confidentiality provisions of the agreements. Forsten was paid about $110,000 and Sica nearly $140,000, which includes accrued sick and vacation time.

Forsten and Sica will also receive "letters of reference" from the board as part of the package.

After releasing the text of the severance package, school board members, through their attorney, Stephen Bennett of Wadleigh, Starr & Peters LLC, explained that the letters of reference would not be letters of recommendation.

"The agreements provide that the district will prepare a letter of reference," Bennett said in an email. "The letter will provide dates of employment, positions, responsibilities, and similar, factual information. The letters will not recommend them (or state that they are qualified or unqualified) for any specific job or position. The agreement also provides that former colleagues within the district may provide them (at their discretion) with their personal letters of recommendations, but none would be speaking for or on behalf of the district."

PREVIOUS PATCH COVERAGE:

• Concord Teacher-Student Rape Case Leads To Second SAU 8 Dismissal
• Embattled Concord School Super Terminated By Board Of Education
• Update: Leadership Changes Coming To Concord School District
• Education Department Revokes Accused Rapist's Teaching Credential
• Concord High School Basketball Coach Abruptly Resigns
• Concord High Principal Did Not Influence Investigation: Attorney
• Embattled Concord Principal Led Staff Remotely While On Leave
• Concord School District Is Burning Through Its FY20 Legal Funding
• Bow High School Coach Suspended, Targeted By Anonymous Mailer
• Concord City Council Issues Statement About Leung Case, Schools
• Former Rundlett Assistant Principal Not Credentialed For 12 Years
• Leung Report Release Could Be Embarrassing, Humiliating: Attorney
• Parents To Concord School Board: Fire Assistant Superintendent
• Mom Accuses Concord Teacher Of Trying To Groom Daughter In 2011
• Concord School District To Conduct Full Staff Credentialing Audit
• Second Concord School Employee Found Not To Be Credentialed
• Credentialing Of Concord's Acting School Super Could Take Months
• Concord Police Chief Says He'd Like To See School Investigation
• Acting Concord School Superintendent Not Credentialed With NH DOE
• Concord Superintendent Forsten, Principal Sica Placed On Leave
• Concord Board Of Education Considering Personnel 'Next Steps'
• Concord Board Of Education Members Eyeing Investigative Report
• Parents, Students Vent About Issues With Concord School District
• Concord School Board To Update Public About Investigation Tuesday
• Concord School Superintendent: Letter To Staff 'A Serious Error'
• Petition To Remove Officials From Concord Schools Cracks 2,000
• Concord School Board Holds Emergency Meeting Sunday With Counsel
• Online Petition Launched To Have Concord School Officials Removed
• Concord Superintendent Lashes Out At Media Coverage Of District
• Concord School Board To Revise 'Professional Expectations' Policy
• Concord High School Principal Takes A Leave Of Absence
• Labrie's Former Counsel Not Hired To Probe Teacher Rape Case
• Concord School Board Opens New Investigation Into Leung Rape Case
• How A Distinguished Concord Teacher Became A Student Rape Suspect
• Students Saw Concord Teacher Kiss, Hug Another Student: Docs
• Should The Concord School District Have Responded Faster To Case?
• NH Teacher Held Without Bail After Bay State Arraignment
• Concord Teacher Accused Of Raping Student In Newton, MA
• Distinguished Educators for 2012

Got a news tip? Send it to Tony Schinella at tony.schinella@patch.com.

View more videos at https://www.youtube.com/user/tonyschinella.