The Newmarket School Board is currently engaged in the search process for an interim superintendent of schools to replace Dr. Susan Givens, who recently handed in her resignation.
This search process, however, is all very hush-hush. So hush-hush In fact, even the names of the candidates are kept secret from the public.
The entire search process undertaken by the Newmarket School Board to replace Givens is being conducted in non-public meetings, out of sight of the public. So secret in fact, that the school board voted to seal the nonpublic minutes of these meetings.
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The Newmarket School Board has clearly stated, through their actions, that the Newmarket community does not have a right or a need to know the qualifications of the applicants or the considerations of the school board in selecting Givens replacement.
It’s worth noting that Gary Swanson, the new chairman of the school board, ran for his position on the board as the “transparency” candidate. He was going to put an end to the secretiveness of the previous boards and let the sunshine in! Political promises. What are they worth? Not very much.
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Newmarket's interim superintendent is not the only secret the school board wanted to keep from their citizens. On more than one occasion, the school board also recently entered into nonpublic sessions to discuss candidates to replace school board member Heather Durant, who, along with four top school district administrators recently resigned.
When the school board went into a nonpublic session to discuss Durant’s replacement, they violated NH RSA 91-A, and Newmarket citizen's Right-to-Know the considerations of the board in selecting her replacement. Considerations of the qualifications and discussions concerning the selection of Candidates for public office must take place in public.
For a very long time, Newmarket citizens have been lied to and kept in the dark concerning the school district's actions. Example: Newmarket taxpayers have been paying legal fees for services concerning many lawsuits filed against the school district., yet, there is no record of the school board ever discussing, authorizing, or voting to authorize these lawsuits.
Newmarket citizens must get their heads out of the sand and get involved in the school district.
Jeffrey Thomas Clay
