Brookside staff urge Westwood board to reverse principal non‑renewal; superintendent cites tenure law constraints

Teachers, aides and parents at the Westwood Regional Board of Education meeting pressed trustees to reverse the district’s decision not to renew Brookside School principal Christina Lamb, saying her first year produced improved morale and more consistent leadership.

Brookside teacher Caitlyn Spear told the board the non‑renewal was “shocking” and said it would affect “over 400 students and 60 staff members,” a concern echoed by several colleagues who outlined specific changes the principal had made to classroom routines, behavior systems and staff collaboration.

During the meeting Dr. McQueeny described tenure law and contractual realities that limited personnel choices. He said two of the four eliminated district administrative positions carried tenure rights; one person declined to exercise those rights and resigned, while another did exercise rights and will fill an elementary principal post effective July 1, displacing a non‑tenured principal by law. Dr. McQueeny said the district had sought legal counsel and seniority advice while making the reductions and that the administration attempted to preserve counseling and wellness support through a newly created supervisor role.

Public commenters urged the board to reconsider the Brookside decision to preserve momentum and continuity for students; speakers described frequent leadership turnover at Brookside in recent years and said Lamb had rapidly improved school climate. Dr. McQueeny acknowledged the staff’s concerns, thanked community members for their advocacy and said he and the board would support staff through the transition.

What’s next: The district said it will continue internal staffing placements consistent with tenure rights and legal obligations and that the board will proceed with the posted personnel actions it approved that evening.