School district may head out on its own

By John Basilesco
Staff Writer

May 15, 2008 04:31 am

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WINDHAM — A committee will help the Windham School District decide whether to split from the Pelham School District and hire its own superintendent.

Such a split would mean two separate administrations and two separate offices.

In March, Windham voters took the first steps toward leaving Pelham by authorizing the formation of a committee to study withdrawing from SAU 28. Windham and Pelham belong to that SAU and share a superintendent, assistant superintendent, director of special education and human resources director.

The committee will look at the pros and cons and make a recommendation on whether to split. Leaving the SAU would require a 60 percent majority vote at Town Meeting to pass.

The committee will include Superintendent Frank Bass and School Board members Michael Hatem and Mark Brockmeier. Five residents, who will be chosen by school district moderator Betty Dunn, are needed to serve on the committee. Anyone interested is asked to send a letter to the superintendent's office or e-mail Dunn at EADunn30@aol.com.

The committee will spend a year researching the issue.

Proponents of the split say both districts have grown to the point where each one needs its own superintendent and other top administrators. Others say it will increase costs for both school districts by requiring Windham to hire its own top administrators and by forcing Pelham to find its own SAU building for Bass and the rest of his staff. Currently, the districts share an office on Route 111 in Windham.

While Windham is now building its first high school, Pelham is looking at building a new high school and turning the existing high school into a middle school.

If approved, a split could be two to three years away, Bass has said.