Claremont schools welcomed students back on Thursday, but not Superintendent Chris Pratt.
Pratt was placed on non-disciplinary, paid administrative leave by the school board during a nonpublic vote earlier this week. News of Pratt’s leave was not made public until Thursday, two days after the board’s decision.
Also on Thursday, confirmation came that the district is seeking a $4 million loan to keep schools open for the full academic year.
Those are the latest developments in Claremont’s self-inflicted school budget crisis. On Aug. 14, the school board announced a multimillion-dollar gap in the budget that could force schools to close.
Business Administrator Mary Henry is already on paid administrative leave amid questions about how the deficit deepened during her tenure. Frank Sprague