Two Nashua Middle School Administrators Placed On Leave

NASHUA, NH — The principal and assistant principal at Elm Street Middle School have been placed on administrative leave and replaced with two administrators from the city's high schools. Nashua Superintendent of Schools Jahmal Mosley's office sent a letter to Elm Street parents stating that Elm Street principal Ian Atwell and assistant principal Kelly Holmes were being replaced with Nashua North assistant principal Lesa McQuesten and Nashua South assistant principal Jason Lonergan on an acting basis.

"Because this is a personnel matter, I will not be making any further comment on their employment status," Mosley wrote in the letter.

Mosley's letter added: "I do want to reassure you that your students remain our top priority and our work to meet their needs continues to be what the Nashua Schools District is all about."

The move comes amid a tumultuous week for Nashua middle schools. Chad LaCrosse, the father of a Fairgrounds Middle School student, shined a light on bullying in Nashua Schools on Monday when he posted a video of his daughter being attacked from behind by other girls. LaCrosse told Patch that Fairgrounds administrators were initially not responsive to his concerns about continual threats aimed at his daughter and her friends, but said in a second Patch interview on Wednesday that he had a "very positive" meeting with Mosley, and that he hopes that the words of support from the superintendent's office and Nashua Police would lead to action to curb bullying in the schools.

Mosley's office released a statement on that incident on Tuesday saying: "We want every student at Fairgrounds Middle School and Nashua District schools to be safe and we will not condone any acts of violence and videotaping any acts of violence."

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