Somersworth School Leaders Disciplined for Abusive Behavior

Investigations into Lori Lane and Dana Hilliard, the two top administrators of Somersworth’s schools, reveal damning allegations of verbally abusive and demeaning behavior toward school building administrators and staff.

Both were recently placed on paid leave.

Hilliard, the school district’s director of operations, is also the city’s longtime elected mayor.

The investigation finds he expressed anger over school staff speaking out in public about cuts to the school budget.

Documents show an outside investigator looked into a complaint about “misconduct, harassment and unethical” behavior by Lane and Hilliard from leaders of the schools they supervise.

A letter of reprimand by School Board Chair Maggie Larson to Hilliard and Lane cited “hostile, disrespectful, unprofessional” conduct.