Superintendent Public Forum Tonight at Windham High

The community is invited to a public forum tonight to ask questions of the two finalists for the school district’s superintendent position.

The forum begins at 6:30 p.m. at Windham High School with a question and answer session with Winfried Feneberg. He will be followed by Dr. Richard Bergeron at 7:30 p.m.

The candidates were narrowed down from seven candidates invited by for interviews from the Screening Committee in December.

There were three finalists, but one withdrew after being chosen.

Initially 16 candidates applied for the position of being the first superintendent of the new Windham School District, SAU95, which begins July 1.

One member of the 11-member Screening Committee, Ken Eyring, expressed concerns about the process.

“I felt it was very restrictive,” Eyring said. “All notes by committee members were not permitted to be taken home for review. There were prohibitions regarding research of the candidates from outside of the SAU. Also, whatever info that was found, was subsequently prohibited from discussion when we were narrowing down the finalists.”

The Screening Committee could only discuss the candidates based on their resumes, their reference letters from friends, and what we heard in the interviews. 

Committee member Donna Bramante InDelicato also said, while the selection process worked, it was restrictive. 

“All candidates were asked the same questions,” she said. “So if we had individual concerns, they couldn’t be addressed.”

This is why the committee feels it is important for the community to come tonight and be allowed to ask more specific questions. 

Eyring also questioned the fact that only 16 people applied for the position.

School Board member Jerome (Jerry) Rekart, who was on the Selection Committee, said there was not “a very deep pool of candidates.”

“We did receive applications from across the country,” he said.

When planning its budget that begins on July 1 the School Board had to add a budget line item for the superintendent.

“We put in $135,000 for this position,” Rekart said. “But the actual offer can be up to that amount. This is the first year we have our own SAU, so had to put in this line item.” 

Feneberg has served as assistant superintendent of SAU55, which includes the Timberland and Hampstead School Districts, since 2007. Richard Bergeron, has been superintendent of SAU1, which represents the Contoocook Valley Regional School District, also since 2007.

Rekart said he is hoping for a good turnout for the public forum.

“It’s important for the board to see how the candidates interact with the parents and the community.”