School board accepts retirement, approves leave and hires Spanish teacher

The Governor Wentworth Regional School Board on Feb. 2 accepted the retirement notification of Kathleen Leonardi, approved an extended leave for Elissa Quinatoa and approved the superintendent’s nomination of Edison Quinatoa as World Language Spanish Teacher at Kingswood Regional High School for the remainder of the 2025–26 school year.

Board Chair Dr. James Manning opened the meeting and the board moved into a non-public session under RSA 91-A to discuss personnel and legal matters. During that session the board approved the retirement and personnel items; the minutes record an 8–0–0 unanimous vote to accept Kathleen Leonardi’s retirement. The board also approved an extended leave for Elissa Quinatoa (vote recorded in the minutes) and accepted the superintendent’s nomination of Edison Quinatoa at Track 4/Step 14, $94,986 pro-rated salary for the remainder of the 2025–26 school year.

The board additionally authorized a small group (Brodie Deshaies, Dr. Elizabeth Sheckler, Superintendent Caroline Arakelian and Business Administrator Kathy O’Blenes) to meet with the towns of Freedom and Madison to draft a tuition agreement for student enrollment. These permissions were recorded as motions in the non-public session and carried in public minutes after the board reconvened.

The non-public session began at 6:02 p.m. and ended at 6:51 p.m.; the board reconvened in public at 7:01 p.m. The minutes list motion movers and seconders for each personnel action and record the votes; where individual votes are recorded the public minutes show the names of board members voting yes or abstaining.

The board’s personnel decisions will be reflected in district staffing and payroll actions; the minutes specify the teacher salary rate for the Edison Quinatoa appointment and note that formal contracts and paperwork will follow the standard district procedures.