Claremont schools see leadership shifts at middle and elementary campuses

Claremont Middle School’s top leadership changed again this week, with Jennifer O’Neill set to serve as interim principal for the rest of the school year and Courtney Steele remaining as assistant principal while the district tries to keep classes steady.

SAU #6 said the CMS transition would continue through the end of the year, and the district said the changes at both CMS and Maple Avenue School were expected to have little effect on students’ daily learning. NewsBreak’s summary said Dale Chenette’s last day at CMS was May 15, while Nichole Boynton, the student services coordinator at Disnard Elementary School, was set to become acting assistant principal at CMS starting Monday.

At Maple Avenue, Principal Mark Blount was on leave, and Mr. Irwin was named acting principal for the remainder of the year. The district said it would work closely with students, staff, family, and community members as the campus leadership shuffle continued.

The personnel changes landed in a district that is still living with the fallout from a $5.011 million deficit. SAU #6 said an internal review found the shortfall, and New Hampshire Bulletin reported that it stemmed from an improper assumption about federal funding by district officials. To keep operating, the district secured a private loan from Claremont Savings Bank through April 2026.

The financial crisis also forced deep staffing cuts. New Hampshire Public Radio reported that Claremont eliminated 39 positions, nearly half of them new teachers and paraprofessionals, while other reporting said the cuts included 19 new teaching positions and 20 non-teaching positions. Families were told to expect larger class sizes and less one-on-one instruction, changes that still shape the daily rhythm in Claremont’s schools.

The leadership turnover has not been limited to the campuses. Superintendent Chris Pratt resigned after being placed on paid administrative leave in September 2025, and at least three administrators have resigned amid the crisis. State lawmakers also considered letting Claremont borrow against future state aid, but district leaders later said they did not want to pursue those funds under the proposed conditions.

For parents and staff at Claremont Middle School, the immediate reality is clear: O’Neill is now in charge there, Steele remains part of the administrative team, and the school year will finish under an interim structure. The larger question is whether SAU #6 can move beyond one temporary replacement after another and give CMS and Maple Avenue the stability they have not had since the budget collapse.