LACONIA — Accusations of out-of-control lunchrooms, unchecked vandalism and unaccredited teachers were among the items referenced by Superintendent Bob Champlin on Tuesday as he continued to paint a picture of a principal who lost control of his school.

The second hearing concerning the recommended termination of suspended Memorial Middle School Principal Tim Rice was dominated by testimony of dozens of alleged incidents suggesting insubordination and failure to adhere to district policy.

The superintendent's second four-hour session saw him getting through nearly all of the allegations he has raised against Rice, who he suspended in late April.

On Tuesday Champlin brought to light alleged actions that he said were not consistent with a veteran principal, whom he claims lost interest in his job.

Among the charges raised was the claim that Rice failed to oversee teacher evaluations that he described as critical to improving instruction and the district's decision whether they want to renew contracts.

Champlin testified that the district's principals are responsible for overseeing the completion of teaching evaluations that include classroom observation and interviews. He said the district set specific schedules to assure that teachers, particularly newer ones, receive feedback about their performance.

The superintendent said Rice failed to perform his duties this year when teacher evaluations consistently came in late. He said that during this past spring's evaluation period more than 28 teachers evaluations weren't complete by March 28 with the district's deadline for renewing contracts coming on April 15. He noted that 16 of incomplete evaluations were Rice's specific responsibility.

The superintendent alleged that Rice's failure to effectively oversee the process was done with the knowledge that district policy requires evaluations to be completed in a timely manner. He said Rice's experience as a principal for the past eight years proved that he acted knowingly.

"Mr. Rice knows how to do these," he said.

The superintendent said Rice's actions concerning the evaluations took place despite repeated reminders that they must be done. He said Rice told him that "computer issues" led to the problem, but alleged that the principal never approached him with that issue until it was too late.

A series of other allegations raised on Tuesday related to what Champlin characterized as a deteriorating relationship between Rice and the facility manager in charge of upkeep at Memorial Middle School.

Champlin said the Memorial Middle School facility manager approached him this winter with serious complaints regarding a lack of support from Rice. He said the manager told him that Rice's lack of support had him so worked up that he was considering going to the hospital for a stress test.

One incident alleged that Rice reported to Champlin that the school had run out of oil and was becoming cold. Champlin said the facility manager told him this was not the case and expressed concern that Rice never approached him about the issue.

Champlin said the manager told him Rice was also unresponsive to problems regarding a group using the school's gym on Saturday mornings when he was supposed to clean the building.

The superintendent alleged that Rice was allowing a teacher and his friends to used the area without scheduling such activity with the district office, which is a mandate under school board policy for liability reasons. Champlin said the manager also reported to him that Rice was unsupportive when he pleaded with him to do something about a problem of someone repeatedly defecating on the floor of the bathroom.

The administrator said the facility manager also remarked that he was offended by alleged comments made by Rice regarding his ethnicity. When asked by Attorney Paul Fitzgerald if the comments were perceived by the facility manager as light-hearted and joking, he said they were not.

Champlin also brought into question Rice's ability to supervise the daily happenings at the school.

The superintendent accused Rice of failing to develop and enforce duty schedules that would assure that students are supervised by teachers during lunches. Champlin said he received complaints that the school's assistant principal was regularly the only one supervising 200 kids at a time during lunch periods. He said teachers and kitchen staff reported incidents of children throwing food and disrespecting one another.

The superintendent said he witnessed the lack of supervision even after bringing the issue to the attention of Rice, whom he said did nothing.

Champlin said that it wasn't until after Rice was suspended that a correct duty schedule was enacted that had some teachers telling them they never received such direction under Rice. Champlin said Rice's inability to handle such standard tasks over the past year were of great concern to him as he was a veteran principal.

Also brought into question was Rice's handling of a reported assault on a seventh-grade girl who was reportedly hit and knocked to the ground. Champlin said Rice failed to oversee a process that would produce a Safe Schools Report that is required when such incidents take place.

Champlin said he also took several complaints from parents who characterized Rice's reaction to their concerns as dismissive.

The superintendent testified to one incident in which Rice allegedly failed to follow district policy when he allowed a class to walk to a music event at a downtown church without obtaining the necessary written permission from parents.

Champlin said a parent complained to the district when she went to the school and found her child to be elsewhere. The parent reportedly was told by Rice that he didn't think it was a problem.

Champlin said he later required Rice to send a written letter to the parent acknowledging that it was inappropriate.

The superintendent also attacked Rice for allegedly doing nothing to curb a situation in which a student's confidential discipline reports being sent to the wrong parents of a student with the same name.

Champlin said the parent receiving the document became extremely frustrated when repeated attempts to solve the situation over several months were unsuccessful.

The superintendent said Rice should have done everything in his power to correct the problem immediately as such information is extremely sensitive.

"That is a confidential matter. The way the issue was resolved is one of the students moved," said Champlin.

Another charge accused Rice of violating district mandates by not enforcing the requirement that staffer verify all student absences. Rice was also accused on Tuesday of authorizing the billing of the district for janitorial services incurred by the Lou Athanas Youth Basketball League during a recent tournament that was held at the school.

Champlin said he was also astonished to learn this past April that a teacher who had been teaching without a certification from an accredited school. The superintendent said Rice violated his requirements when he failed to verify the credentials presented by a teacher who it turned out had misrepresented their qualifications.

"This was this teacher's second year in the district," said Champlin.

Champlin characterized that incident as another example of Rice failing to follow up on duties that are critical to ensuring a safe and quality learning environment.

The superintendent challenged Rice's claims that his suspension was primarily the product of difference in opinion between the two men. He said he considered suspending Rice in December, but held off in the hopes that he would turn things around, all the time trying to maintain a "cordial" and supportive relationship.

He said that by April Rice's failure to correct alleged problems forced him to make a decision that he knew would impact many people int. he school community.

"I was a point where I thought something needed to be done."

Champlin is expected to wrap up his side of testimony on Monday when the hearings will resume at 2 p.m. at the SAU Office on Harvard Street.

Rice will get his chance to present his case after Champlin and his attorney conclude the presentation of their evidence. The case will ultimately be decided by the School Board.

Geoff Cunningham Jr. can be reached at 524-3800 ext. 5931 or via e-mail at gcunningham citizen.com.