Superintendent Finalists Bury Past Controversies

While outlining their educational philosophies to residents on Jan. 8, both Windham superintendent finalists answered to past controversies that took place while they were in leadership positions.

Candidates Winfried Feneberg and Dr. Richard Bergeron both took questions from residents for an hour each during a forum at Windham High School.

Windham resident Paul Therrien asked Feneberg about his connection with an incident related to a teacher who was arrested and later found guilty on child pornography charges.

According to reports by The Eagle Tribune, Timberlane school administrators were aware in 2008 that middle school teacher Scott Buatti was being investigated for child pornography. That knowledge came more than a year before indictments on Buatti were made public.

Feneberg distanced himself from the incident, explaining that he was present at the first meeting with an Immigrations and Customs Enforcement investigator, but was not involved after that.

At the time, he said that administrators were informed that there was no danger to children in the district.

At the time, Feneberg said that he was acting superintenent for Hampstead, a role that he still carries. Asked by Therrien why the Timberlane School Board sealed minutes related to the personnel matter, Feneberg said that he couldn't comment because that matter was handled by Timberlane Superintendent Richard La Salle.

Feneberg promised Therrien and the rest of the Windham residents that the security and safety of children have always come first in his professional life.

"I will obey the laws and I will report any suspicions of child abuse and neglect as I am mandated," he said.

A second resident stood up and thanked Feneberg for his sensitivity in answering Therrien's question.

Bergeron was also questioned about a controversy that took place during his time in Boxborough, Mass.

Windham resident Michelle Levell referenced problems that Bergeron had with his district related to home-schooled children.

She talked about the Home School Legal Defense Association, which has an article on its website that alleges that Bergeron shared private and confidential materials from one family to another, threatened other parents with home-schooling rejection unless they complied with his demands and asked for information that went beyond Massachusetts law.

The posting also mentions a clash between Bergeron and a single mother who was allegedly denied home-schooling for a year.

Bergeron said that the article is filled with "so many inaccuracies and untruths," something that he said the HLSDA acknowledged.

He added that the posting suggests that as the superintendent he was running "willy-nilly with enforcement."

"Superintendents don't do that," Bergeron said.

He added that he has always supported and worked in conjunction with home school families in the districts that he has worked in.

In reference to the dispute with the woman in the Boxborough district, he said it was a parent who moved to town that never stepped into his school.

Bergeron said that as a result of the dispute, the Boxborough School Board changed the relationship between home school students in the town and the superintendent position.

"The conflict was a story, but absolutely not the truth," he said. "I hope that I'll have the opportunity to prove that to you."

Bergeron has spent time working in Chelmsford, North Andover and now at SAU1 in the Contoocook Valley School District.