Manchester, NH– Jon DiPietro, candidate for school board in Ward 6, submitted a Right to Know request to Manchester Board of School Committee Clerk Maura Leahy today. He is seeking access to documents related to the breach of confidentiality by at-large Board of School Committee (BOSC) member Nancy Tessier on September 14th, 2017.

During its meeting on September 26th, the BOSC voted to receive and file a letter from attorney James O’Shaughnessy containing his findings regarding allegations that Tessier disclosed confidential information from a non-public meeting to employees of the Manchester School District.  A motion by committee member Rich Girard to make the letter public was voted down.

The facts of this situation do not seem to be in dispute. Committee member Tessier did, apparently, disseminate confidential information in violation of board policy, the city charter, and state law. Girard also contended the breach violated the board’s employment contract with Superintendent Dr. Bolgen Vargas.

“Tessier’s reckless act put the City of Manchester at legal risk and undermined the confidence and authority of Superintendent Vargas,” said DiPietro. “The shameful and inexcusable behavior of the Manchester BOSC, including Ward 6 incumbent Dan Bergeron, to hide the facts from the public cannot be tolerated. For this reason, I am requesting a copy of the letter containing the findings of the investigation so that the citizens of Manchester can hold their elected officials accountable. This is another example of a board that’s dysfunctional because it’s protecting one of its own instead of the interests of the district and the kids,” concluded DiPietro.

Jon DiPietro

Jon DiPietro is a candidate for the Manchester Board of School Committee in Ward 6, where his 4 daughters spent the equivalent of 30 school years in its public schools. Jon has spent 20 years as a small business owner and has a 15-year, award-winning history of volunteer leadership. Jon’s campaign is focused on curriculum excellence, consistent class sizes, and reduced bureaucracy within the constraints of the city’s tax cap. He promises to bring ethics, professionalism, and pragmatism to the BOSC.

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To learn more about Jon’s campaign for Board of School Committee, please visit his website at bosc.jondipietro.com