[S]TAMFORD — A school that’s had three principals in five years will be getting another one after the board decided to oust the incumbent after eight months on the job. Teachers, many residents and the superintendent had supported keeping him on.
The Stamford Elementary School Board cited simmering disagreements for its unanimous decision not to renew Principal Garth Grennan’s contract.
The board selected his replacement at its meeting this month, where members also approved funding to acquire recording equipment for their meetings. Grennan said petitions had called for recording, and that the official minutes didn’t accurately reflect the February meeting where the board discussed his contract renewal.
Chairwoman Cynthia Lamore declined to discuss the issues board members had with Grennan in detail but said “miscommunication” concerning the principal’s duties and his failure to meet board expectations were major factors.
Grennan, 57, who was hired in June, said he had hoped to retire in the post after more than 30 years in education. But he said overwhelming “micromanagement” by the board and a “lack of support” from the administrative assistant led to “the worst year I ever had in my career.”
As for possible appeals of the decision, Grennan said he had “exhausted my options here,” adding that he was grateful for the support he received from the superintendent, from “100 percent of the faculty,” and from many parents and others.
“The only other recourse, if I chose to do so, would be through the courts,” he said, but Grennan added that he had not made any decisions in that regard. “Right now, I just want to get through the year,” he said.
During the February meeting when the board voted not to renew Grennan’s contract, several people voiced support for him to continue as principal, and the board cited its reasons for not doing so.
The meeting minutes note that Grennan asked that discussion of his contract renewal be held in open session. Among citations included in the minutes were:
• “All of the visitors stated that they believe Principal Grennan has been good for the school, staff and children.”
• “Each mentioned a specific item where they felt Principal Grennan was receptive and helpful to their concerns. One stated a possibility of not returning to the school as a staff member, another stated that perhaps not allowing their children to continue attending the school if Principal Grennan’s contract was not renewed.”
• “In general, staff members present support his decisions.”
• “They would like the board to look beyond any differences and give him a chance to continue.”
Windham Southwest Superintendent Christopher Pratt also told board members at the meeting that “he feels that Principal Grennan should continue as principal,” according to the posted minutes.
However, the board raised a number of issues concerning Grennan before voting unanimously against renewing his contract.
Those included concerns about his attire; arriving late to school without proper notification to personnel; not following school hiring and job advertising policies; not conducting monthly fire drills and lockdown drills as required; the late release of standardized student test results; inconsistent principal reports to the board; failure to present school water test results to the board; concerns over notification of parents of student progress reports; and disagreements and a lack of communication between the principal and longtime administrative assistant Debra Chesbro.
Chesbro has since retired from the school district, board members said. The board at its meeting May 11 said she had worked for the school for 33 years.
At their May meeting, board members discussed several items relating to the principal’s contract going forward — attempting, they said, to spell out more clearly what the board’s expectations are for the position.
Details of the February meeting were confirmed by several Stamford residents or school employees, who asked that their names not be published.
Grennan said the February meeting minutes “did not reflect the true tenor of what was said on my behalf.”
He said that in addition to remarks by his supporters, petitions have been submitted to the board urging his reinstatement and calling for future board meetings to be recorded.
As the school year progressed, Grennan said, “it became a very hostile environment,” which he said was compounded by “an intractable board” that he suggested had the allegiance of the administrative assistant.
In general, he said, “the board has done what it wanted for a long time,” which Grennan contended has likely been a factor in the school having three principals, including him, within the past five years.
Prior to being named principal, Grennan was education director at the Brattleboro Retreat and previously worked in SWSU schools, among other districts, over the past 30 years.
Asked about the situation at the Stamford school, Pratt said, “All I can say is that it is an unfortunate situation for all parties involved. I hope that everyone can move forward as a school and community, and all of our decisions are always based on what is best for our kids.”
The board this month unanimously chose Micah Hayre, now a middle school math teacher and principal intern at Dorset School, to become principal in Stamford as of July 1. Hayre was one of three finalists that Pratt and a district search committee recommended.
Pratt said Hayre has accepted the position as principal. No salary information was provided.
