Parent: We're All Horrified We're Going to Lose Teachers, Administrators

Board of Education chairman Kerrie Flanagan this week quickly dismissed the notion that the recent decision by two school district administrators to leave District 13 had anything to do with battles over next year's school budget.

The issue came up at Wednesday's public hearing on the $36.61 million proposal, when Durham resident Beth Walker expressed her concern that budget talks may have led to the departure of Superintendent Susan Viccaro and Coginchaug High School principal Andre Hauser.

"I mean, we are all horrified that we're going to lose other teachers and administrators, to be totally honest, who make this district who we are. If it's over 2.2 percent or 3.2 percent are we missing the mark," Walker asked, a reference to the budget's increase.

Hauser announced he was leaving the high school later this month to take a job as principal of Waterford High School in March. Just a week later, the board announced that Viccaro would be leaving in June.

"My concern is, and I have no idea, is that the reason for some of this attrition is because of battles over the budget. Is that part of it? I mean, if it is, we as residents… that's not good," Walker said.

Flanagan said the school board was equally surprised to learn that both Viccaro and Hauser would be leaving the district this year.

"The reasons given to the board were not over the budget and we certainly didn't have any direct confrontations with Mr. Hauser or Susan over this budget," she said.

To the contrary, Flanagan said talks over the budget, ongoing since October, had gone relatively smoothly. 

"In fact this year the board goals have been to improve communication. It was the first year we brought two administrators to two budget retreats to try to get input going into the process," she said.

The board agreed on Wednesday to send the budget to referendum on May 7, when Durham and Middlefield voters will decide whether or not to support the 1.42 percent increase.

Meanwhile, a principal search committee that will include parents will be working to hire a new principal, according to Flanagan. The board has agreed to hire a search firm to help the district find a replacement for Viccaro.

"It's a pretty long process. I think it's going to take a while," Flanagan said about the process.

Viccaro and Hauser were both given a standing ovation by the crowd at the hearing when they were recognized by the board.