PHS PRINCIPALS RESIGN POSTS: OFFICIALS MUM ON REASON FOR ABRUPT CHANGES

PORTSMOUTH -- The School Board Tuesday accepted the resignations of
high school Principal Forrest Ransdell and Assistant Principal Mike
McKenney, but officials would not say why the two men abruptly left
the district.

Ransdell, principal for almost three years, and McKenney, assistant
principal for almost eight years and part-time athletic director for
the past three years, submitted their immediate resignations Tuesday
morning. Their contracts, which are renewed yearly, would have
expired June 30. The contracts were due to be renewed this week.

Assistant Superintendent Steve Zadravec will fill in as acting high
school principal. Superintendent Bob Lister said he hopes to assign
an in-house staff member as interim assistant principal within the
next two days. Kathleen Metterville will remain as the school's
second assistant principal.

Lister said the board negotiated a severance package with Ransdell
even though his contract does not include one. Ransdell will be paid
$29,600 in one lump sum, which represents four months salary.

McKenney will not receive severance pay, Lister said.

The resignations come on the heels of a number of student drug
arrests and drinking incidents, including the cancellation of the
swim team season due to team members drinking alcohol at an event.
Lister, however, indicated these issues were not linked to the
administrators' departure.

The resignations also come just days after city Recreation Director
Rus Wilson declined to take over the high school sports programs
because of "philosophical differences" with McKenney and Ransdell.

Lister and School Board Chairman Kent LaPage -- who strongly
supported Wilson overseeing school sports -- said they could not
comment on whether the Wilson fallout was why McKenney and Ransdell left.

LaPage did say the administrators' decision was not out of the blue.
He said board members were "apprised of possibly receiving
resignation letters" at a nonpublic session Monday night.

LaPage and Lister would not say if the board asked Ransdell and
McKenney to step down.

Despite things being up in the air, Lister said he expects the school
will be able to handle the personnel changes. He said he and George
Cushing, superintendent of School Administrative Unit 50 will work
closely with teachers, students, parents and the School Board to
ensure a smooth transition. SAU 50 oversees the towns of Newington,
New Castle, Rye and Greenland, all sending towns to PHS.

"The most important thing is to make sure there is no negative impact
on students," Lister said.

Lister said he met with high school teachers Tuesday afternoon to
discuss the resignations, and he and Zadravec will visit high school
classes this morning to explain the situation to students.

One thing that must be determined quickly is who will oversee the
spring sports season, which begins in a week, now that McKenney is no
longer athletic director.

Lister said the district hopes to find a permanent principal and
assistant principal by next school year. He said it will also have to
figure out some kind of "athletic solution," given that the half-time
assistant principal and athletic director position was not working.

Adam Leech contributed to this report.