Milford School Board To Discuss Closed Misconduct Investigation

MILFORD, NH — The Milford School Board is expected to discuss the appointment of a replacement member to fill out the term of a recent resignation Wednesday. But members will also be discussing a misconduct investigation and why it was suspended before completion. The board meets at 7 p.m. on Aug. 28, at Milford High School, and will discuss who should replace recently resigned member Jenni Siegrist, who left the board two Sundays ago, amid the misconduct investigation.

Included in the board's packet is a letter from Megan Carrier, an attorney with Sheehan Phinney, the firm hired on June 21, to investigate whether Siegrist violated any of her duties as a member of the board, including possible breach of confidentially, with former school employee Jaime Morgan. Morgan, a former technology support employee at the school, requested the investigation after nine months of interaction via text message, Facebook messages, and phone conversations with Siegrist.

That investigation, however, was suspended before it was completed, on Aug. 9, Carrier noted in a letter in the board's meeting packet, by the district's legal counsel, Meghan Glynn. But they were asked to drafter a letter detailing their efforts and findings, so far.

Carrier stated that they had interviewed Glynn, Morgan, Siegrist, Superintendent Jessica Huizenga, and Jerry Stajduhar, a district employee. The firm also "researched and analyzed" applicable laws, regulations, and policies, and was also waiting for information from the New Hampshire Department of Education and New Hampshire School Board Association, "to the extent any such guidance exists."

Ron Carvell, the chairman of the Milford School Board, confirmed Tuesday that he requested Glynn reach out to the firm to suspend the investigation.

"I directed our legal counsel to communicate with Sheehan Phinney that the investigation be suspended temporarily following Ms. Siegrist’s notification to me that she intended to resign," Carvell stated in an email to Patch.

After temporarily suspending the investigation, the board then met on Aug. 15, according to Carvell, in a nonpublic session "regarding our legal options pertaining to the investigation." He added, "At that meeting, the board voted to terminate the investigation, effective immediately."

Carrier stated in the letter to the board that it had not reached a "final conclusion" as to whether or not Siegrist violated any of her duties. She also said that they had not had the opportunity to "follow up with a few of the individuals involved to address several important issues that arose during the course of the investigation."

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