Former Claremont superintendent up for top job at SAU 23

SAU #6 Superintendent Michael Tempesta attends a visit with U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona on Friday, Nov. 3, 2023, in Claremont, N.H., at the River Valley Community College. (Valley News - Jennifer Hauck) Copyright Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com.

Published: 01-19-2024 6:11 AM

NORTH HAVERHILL — Michael Tempesta, who was fired last week by the SAU 6 School Board, has been named a finalist for the SAU 23 superintendent position.

Tempesta had served SAU 6, which includes Claremont and Unity, since July 2019 before being abruptly fired. He was in the third year of a five-year contract extension granted in 2021.

SAU 6 Chairwoman Arlene Hawkins, a member of the Claremont School Board, declined to provide the reasons for Tempesta’s dismissal, citing personnel issues.

The board had met in a nonpublic session without Tempesta present before taking a vote in public. It was revealed days before the board’s decision that Tempesta was a finalist for a superintendent’s job in Hull, Mass., though he was not hired.

Tempesta could not be reached for comment.

In announcing Tempesta as a finalist for SAU 23, the SAU board said additional information about the selection process will be provided in the weeks ahead. Board Chairman Donald Bagley did not immediately respond to an email.

SAU 23 serves the towns of Haverhill, Bath, Warren, Benton and Piermont.

— Patrick O’Grady

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