Not only did your SAU board vote to renew Dr. Metzler’s contract under total cloak of darkness, but they violated their own policy to do so last night. The policy was not waived nor was it even mentioned. (Thank you to a reader for bringing this policy to my attention*)
SAU Policy CBC
SAU ADMINISTRATOR CONTRACT
New contracts, renewals or extensions for SAU administrators will be considered at the spring meeting of the SAU each year. A majority vote by the SAU Board will authorize the Chairperson to sign the contract on behalf of the SAU with the SAU administration.
This irregularity has the result of stripping any newly elected members to both the Hampstead and Timberlane School Boards of any say in the continuation of the superintendent’s term. This disenfranchised the public.
Now look at all the irregularities associated with your boards’ actions concerning the Metzlers.
- TRSB went into an illegal non-public to discuss a contract for hiring Mrs. Metzler back in March of 2014.
- Mrs. Metzler was hired as a consultant to the district in a newly created role. The board was told she was the only person in the state with the necessary qualifications. We subsequently found out this is not correct.
- Mrs. Metzler’s contract was renewed without a vote of the board and about six months before it was due to expire.
- Mrs. Metzler’s contract was renewed, extended to five years and signed without the knowledge of the board as a whole.
- Mrs. Metzler’s five-year contract does not contain a non-appropriation clause therefore by law it should have gone before the voters.
- Dr. Metzler’s contract is voted to be renewed outside of the prescribed time as set by policy, which is the spring after elections, and without notice to the public.
It is important to note that all these actions were taken by your elected officials. Neither Dr. Metzler nor his wife are responsible for the behavior of your school boards (who make up the SAU board).
About the Contract
The superintendent’s contract itself has very unfavorable terms should the SAU board want to change superintendents. The contract must be bought out unless the superintendent is released “for cause,” and I can assure you that any “cause” would end up in court. This is why it is a very bad business move to offer long contracts and there is no need of it. Keep in mind that the superintendent by contract can leave at any time with notice so the length of the contract doesn’t protect the district from change but only subjects it to Draconian consequences should we wish a new superintendent.
Here is Dr. Metzler’s first contract: Metzler 2012-2015 (3)
The first renewal added an addendum stating the contract was renewed on the same terms until 2017.
* The reason “superintendent contract renewal” should have been put on the agenda was to allow board members to do research ahead of time. Honestly, I doubt I would have looked at policy in this case, but I would have had a chance to do so – and compare our superintendent’s contract with others around the region. That I would have done. Your board consistently abuses the discretion they have been granted to discuss things in secret and it only ever works to your disadvantage.
timberlaneandsandown 
The NH State Attorney General’s office should be made aware of this.
School boards running amok? Would be nice to think the AG’s office would care but believe me, they don’t. It is only diligent citizens who ensure the integrity of any public body. As I’ve said a thousand times, just because the law permits something to be discussed in non-public doesn’t mean it should be discussed in non-public and the early renewal and extension of a superintendent’s contract is a prime example of the importance of the distinction.
I recveived a reply from the AG’s office. Here it is ‘ in a nut shell’
1) if any board is thought to violate the NH Right To Know laws, the avenue to address that is through the courts. The AG’s office does not have enforcement authority with respect to RTK .
2) The Attorney General has no authority to enforce the provisions of an SAU policy. Again, citizens who are impacted by the actions of the board may challenge it in court.
Only citizens can enforce their own rights – with their own money and their own lawyer in a court.
There is no government authority whatsoever that oversees SAUs.