The board that governs Brattleboro Union High School has dismissed Principal Steve Perrin without explanation, seven months after placing him on paid leave from his $120,000-a-year job.
Windham Southeast School District leaders took the action late Tuesday night, at a time when most of the public was focused on election results.
Board Chair Kelly Young gaveled her colleagues into a half-hour executive session Tuesday. When it ended, she called for terminating Perrin’s contract. Without discussion, the board unanimously agreed.
Perrin, who came to the school as a science teacher in 1995, was promoted to assistant principal in 2007 and to the principal’s job in 2010. He last attended a board meeting on April 12. Two weeks later, the school emailed students, families and staff a terse message: “Hello BUHS Community, Mr. Perrin, the BUHS Principal, is currently on a leave of absence.”
The board has yet to offer an explanation — although The Commons, a Windham County weekly newspaper, recently reported that a former student was considering a lawsuit claiming Perrin made unwanted advances a dozen years ago.
(VTDigger has not independently corroborated the claims in The Commons’ reporting.)
School district leaders haven’t publicly addressed The Commons story, other than to note they face both legal and contractual limits on what can be revealed. They’ve said they can confirm an independent lawyer is investigating claims of misconduct against all past and present staff.
Perrin, for his part, hasn’t responded to local media requests for comment.
Under state law, a principal may be dismissed “for just and sufficient cause.” The administrator in question may request a board hearing in executive session within 15 days.
Brattleboro Union High School educates 800 students from throughout the town and the neighboring communities of Dummerston, Guilford, Putney and Vernon.
The school is now being led by interim Principal Cassie Damkoehler and assistants Traci Lane and Hannah Parker. The trio recently received public praise for their handling of two student overdoses this fall.
