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Date: 8/7/2023
WESTHAMPTON — On June 30, the education association representing teachers and support staff at Hampshire Regional School District, also known as HRSD, voted to declare no confidence in Superintendent Diana Bonneville.
According to a press release, the Williamsburg Teachers Association, representing teachers and support staff at Anne T. Dunphy School, on June 30 also voted “overwhelmingly” to declare no confidence in Bonneville. The Dunphy School is an elementary school in the district.
The towns of Westhampton, Southampton, Chesterfield, Goshen and Williamsburg are member towns in HRSD. The unions issuing no confidence votes represent teachers and staff in Williamsburg and the district high school.
District leaders scheduled a meeting of all five School Committees in the district for July 27. An executive session, when the public cannot be present, was the only item on the agenda. In executive session the committee cannot discuss an employee’s competence. Rather, executive sessions allow for the discussion of reputation and character, any charges or complaints made against an employee, and possible discipline or dismissal.
Several criticisms of Bonneville’s performance involved her effort to hire Erica Faginski-Stark, a candidate for assistant superintendent, who was soundly rejected by both students and educators. Concerns arose when online posts made by Faginski-Stark were judged to be transphobic. Students demonstrated against the candidate prior to an online job interview with the school committees and general population.
Staff members were also concerned that Faginski-Stark was not suitable for the district, which has a reputation as a safe haven for transgender families.
During the job interview, Bonneville continued to push Faginski-Stark’s candidacy. The complaints criticized Bonneville for “continuing to pursue a Central Office candidate whose values are not aligned with those of our community, despite unequivocal dismay and disapproval from community members.”
Greg Reynolds, a geography teacher at the high school and co-president of the teachers union there, made it plain during Faginski-Stark’s job interview on June 22 that Bonneville’s performance was unsatisfactory in a number of important ways.
“I strongly oppose this candidate,” Reynolds said. “I speak for our entire association when I say that all of us do. I also take great exception to the lack of transparency, collaboration and outreach throughout the hiring processes of the central office staff.”
The complaints allege that Bonneville lacked transparency and truthfulness during the hiring process, “presented misinformation” about the opinions of search committee members, and that she was not collaborative in hiring for leadership positions in general. Bonneville was also cited for ignoring constructive feedback, forcing out veteran staff and restructuring the central office without input from others.
Morale at the district office allegedly suffered because Bonneville created a “toxic work environment”. Also noted was her failure to solicit feedback from school health personnel and technology specialists during the central office restructuring.
During the June 20 job interview a member of the HRSD community, identified only as Sherry, reiterated the primary focus the district puts on inclusivity. The speaker, self-identified as a previous member of the School Committee, voiced bewilderment that Faginski-Stark became the preferred candidate.
“We have a recommendation for a hire where we’re really unsure how that even happened. What was the process? How is this?” Sherry asked. “How did this person rise to the top of the list?”
Mary Ellen Woods, president of the Williamsburg Teachers Association, said that she voiced concerns about the candidate and that staff members were so upset by the proposed hire they cried in her office.
A School Committee member from Westhampton, Peter Cleary, commented that Bonneville’s presentation of Faginski-Stark as the favored candidate was directly hurtful to the HRSD community. Several parents from the district also voiced fears that Faginski-Stark would damage the trust between the school district and member towns, as well as the students.
A student self-identified as Alice Jenkins spoke to the effect Bonneville’s hiring choice had on the HRSD community. According to Jenkins, the superintendent’s choice alienated students and felt disrespectful.
“You cannot so blatantly disrespect students like that and expect them to comply and respect administration,” Jenkins said. “Enough respect has been lost already in the selection of this candidate, and I would hate to see this continue to unfold.”
As of press time, school officials have not publicly commented on the no-confidence vote.