Pubdate: Wed, 15 Mar 2006
Source: Portsmouth Herald (NH)
Copyright: 2006 Seacoast Newspapers
Contact:  http://www.seacoastonline.com/news/index.htm
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1157
Author: Emily Aronson
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

PHS PRINCIPALS RESIGN POSTS: OFFICIALS MUM ON REASON FOR ABRUPT CHANGES

PORTSMOUTH -- The School Board Tuesday accepted the resignations of 
high school Principal Forrest Ransdell and Assistant Principal Mike 
McKenney, but officials would not say why the two men abruptly left 
the district.

Ransdell, principal for almost three years, and McKenney, assistant 
principal for almost eight years and part-time athletic director for 
the past three years, submitted their immediate resignations Tuesday 
morning. Their contracts, which are renewed yearly, would have 
expired June 30. The contracts were due to be renewed this week.

Assistant Superintendent Steve Zadravec will fill in as acting high 
school principal. Superintendent Bob Lister said he hopes to assign 
an in-house staff member as interim assistant principal within the 
next two days. Kathleen Metterville will remain as the school's 
second assistant principal.

Lister said the board negotiated a severance package with Ransdell 
even though his contract does not include one. Ransdell will be paid 
$29,600 in one lump sum, which represents four months salary.

McKenney will not receive severance pay, Lister said.

The resignations come on the heels of a number of student drug 
arrests and drinking incidents, including the cancellation of the 
swim team season due to team members drinking alcohol at an event. 
Lister, however, indicated these issues were not linked to the 
administrators' departure.

The resignations also come just days after city Recreation Director 
Rus Wilson declined to take over the high school sports programs 
because of "philosophical differences" with McKenney and Ransdell.

Lister and School Board Chairman Kent LaPage -- who strongly 
supported Wilson overseeing school sports -- said they could not 
comment on whether the Wilson fallout was why McKenney and Ransdell left.

LaPage did say the administrators' decision was not out of the blue. 
He said board members were "apprised of possibly receiving 
resignation letters" at a nonpublic session Monday night.

LaPage and Lister would not say if the board asked Ransdell and 
McKenney to step down.

Despite things being up in the air, Lister said he expects the school 
will be able to handle the personnel changes. He said he and George 
Cushing, superintendent of School Administrative Unit 50 will work 
closely with teachers, students, parents and the School Board to 
ensure a smooth transition. SAU 50 oversees the towns of Newington, 
New Castle, Rye and Greenland, all sending towns to PHS.

"The most important thing is to make sure there is no negative impact 
on students," Lister said.

Lister said he met with high school teachers Tuesday afternoon to 
discuss the resignations, and he and Zadravec will visit high school 
classes this morning to explain the situation to students.

One thing that must be determined quickly is who will oversee the 
spring sports season, which begins in a week, now that McKenney is no 
longer athletic director.

Lister said the district hopes to find a permanent principal and 
assistant principal by next school year. He said it will also have to 
figure out some kind of "athletic solution," given that the half-time 
assistant principal and athletic director position was not working.

Adam Leech contributed to this report.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman