3 In Concord School District Central Office Slated To Exit

CONCORD, NH — During the next seven months, there will be an upheaval, of sorts, in the Concord School District central office, as three core staff members, with decades of experience, will either be leaving or retiring between now and the end of the year.

Bob Belmont, the director of student services, will be leaving the district in July, according to Kathleen Murphy, the SAU 8 superintendent. Assistant School Superintendent Donna Palley, who has been with the district for around 36 years, will be retiring in September. And Larry Prince, the director of human resources, will be retiring in December.

The district did not make a formal announcement about the staffers who were exiting. Instead, a graphic and note were posted on the district's Facebook site mentioning the job vacancies. The district has a number of other openings on its employment link, too.

Murphy said the decision to just put the openings out there on social media was about being as transparent as possible.

"I want everyone to know what's going on," she said.

The district will be putting together major searches to fill the positions including education job websites, LinkedIn, and Indeed, and traditional print advertising, Murphy said, in an effort to get "eclectic" potential candidates.

"It's going to be interesting," she said. "It is going to be a little bit of a challenge. But, it's time. As you described, change is good sometimes. We'll take it one step at a time."

Murphy said she expects to have potential candidates for the positions soon. The human resources director position will probably be the easiest to fill since it does not require certification by the state, she said. Replacing Belmont, who handles special education services for the district, will be a challenge, she added.

"That's going to be the toughest one, I think," Murphy said. "It's a difficult job."

Balancing the needs of special education students, what their parents expect and want, and what the district can provide is a fine balancing act — made all the more difficult by many different factors including budget and staffing constraints, and federal and state regulations. Everyone involved needs to make "hard decisions," she said. It can be an emotional experience like all aspects of education.

Currently, superintendent, assistant superintendents, business administrators, special education teachers, and coordinators are all positions that lack applicants in the Granite State. The New Hampshire Department of Education allows for what is called a "sight-based licensing plan" via state Ed Rule 505.05. Qualified educators can work in the position while obtaining the required educational experience, for up to three years.

Murphy said she did not know if she would use that opportunity for the district when hiring a new student services director — although, if the right candidate came from a private school, working in special education, but was not certified, she might consider it. Nonpublic educators and specialists are not required to be certified in New Hampshire.

Murphy commended Belmont for "saving taxpayers thousands and thousands of dollars" on out-of-district placements while also providing programming for the district. She added that he was "looking for a new adventure." Belmont also worked hard handling Title I grants and the English Language Learner program, she noted.

The district, she said, had been "very fortunate to have someone with his qualifications here."

Palley, Murphy said, agreed to stay on a little longer before retiring, until September, and said she was very grateful for the extra time to be working with her.

"Donna has devoted almost her entire educational career to the Concord School District," she said. "She brought an incredible amount of energy to the work — curriculum, assessing … her work will be greatly missed by everyone. It was a privilege for me to work with her."

Murphy said Prince "had his pulse on what is happening around HR" including federal, state, and local labor laws adding she "learned a lot" from him.

"All of the hiring," she said, with a bit of perplexity in her voice, "all of the work around benefits and programs negotiated … nine contracts he has been overseeing. Can you believe that? I think he is looking forward to retirement and it has certainly been a privilege working with him."

Prince, who started at SAU 8 in 2008, said, while leaving in December, he will still follow happenings in the district and stay connected via local media outlets.

"Throughout the years, I have had the privilege of working with some of the brightest educational minds in the business, from administrators, teachers, and all groups of folks who have dedicated their lives and careers to the education of our students," he said. "I am proud to have been part of that for the past number of years."

Palley, in an email, said, "It has been a privilege to serve the children and families of Concord and to work with so many talented and dedicated colleagues for 36 years. "

Belmont did return an email seeking comment about his employment status.

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