Champlin confirms Rice's suspension but won't say why

Acknowledging yesterday his suspension of Memorial Middle School (MMS) Principal Tim Rice, Superintendent Bob Champlin declined to go into any specifics about the decision because it is a personnel matter.

Champlin did say, however, that he's in the process of developing a plan of action for the administration of the school and anticipates making it available to the school's staff and the public by Wednesday, April 27.

As for Rice's future with the school district, Champlin reiterated what he'd written in a memo to the MMS staff that was released yesterday — that Rice would not be acting in the role of MMS Principal until further notice.

Champlin also noted that the report in yesterday's Daily Sun claiming that Rice had appeared at the SAU offices Thursday morning accompanied by his wife and attorney, Anne Rice, and with Peggy McAllister of the New Hampshire Principal's Association, was incorrect in that Anne Rice was not present.

Like Champlin, Tim Rice, who was reached by telephone yesterday morning, declined comment.

Asked whether Rice's suspension meant that he was being fired, Champlin responded that as superintendent he has only the authority to suspend an administrator. Only the school board can actually terminate an administrator, he explained, while conceding that the board could consider taking that action based on a recommendation from the superintendent. Champlin would not say, however, whether such a recommendation would be forthcoming.

In an effort to clarify the process, Champlin said that should a superintendent make such a recommendation to terminate the employment of an administrator or any state certified employee, the employee can request a hearing on the matter before the school board. Again he explained that only the school board has the authority to fire an administrator, and even a decision by the board can be appealed.

On Thursday, two sources with knowledge of the situation but who did not wish to be identified told The Daily Sun that Champlin on Wednesday asked Rice to resign and Rice, in response, had made it clear he would not do so.

With the school's spring vacation starting when classes ended yesterday afternoon, Rice's absence will not be an immediate problem. It also allows Champlin an opportunity to seek input from the school's faculty and staff as he develops his plan of action.