Waterford — All seats were taken in the Board of Education conference room Monday with many in attendance saying they had come to the special meeting to show support for Director of Finance and Operations Bob Sirpenski, who was facing the prospect of not having a position with the district come the beginning of the new fiscal year in July.

Sirpenski is one of the district’s 31 individually contracted employees, a group that includes non-union employees who do administrative and other work for the district. Superintendent Jerome Belair informed Sirpenski in late May that he intended to recommend that the board not renew Sirpenski’s two-year contract, which was scheduled to end June 30.

The board unanimously voted Monday to extend Sirpenski’s contract 62 days from its scheduled end, putting off the question of renewal until the interim superintendent takes her post following Superintendent Jerome Belair's scheduled departure from the district at the end of June.

Sirpenski said after the board voted Monday that he was satisfied with the board’s decision, describing it as fair.

“I’m confident that my work performance will speak for itself with a new superintendent,” he said.

He described the 62 days as a short time frame, “but given the circumstances, I’ll take it.”

Neither Belair nor Sirpenski would elaborate on Belair’s reasons for recommending non-renewal of Sirpenski’s contract. Speaking after Monday’s meeting, Belair said he came to the conclusion through evaluation of Sirpenski’s job performance, and said his exact reasons for advocating for non-renewal were confidential.

While the board was still in closed session Monday discussing whether to renew the contract, Sirpenski said he could not share details about Belair’s reasons because it was a personnel matter. Sirpenski said he had not received indications prior to late May that his contract might not be renewed. He described Belair’s reasons for seeking non-renewal as “unsubstantiated.”

The contracts of other individually contracted employees all were renewed recently, according to Nazarchyk.

Standing in the hallway as the board deliberated Monday, Sirpenski commented on the size of the crowd of teachers and other district staff members who had come to hear the board’s decision. The board also discussed Sirpenski’s contract in executive session June 11.

“This was an outpouring of support that I didn’t ask for,” Sirpenski said.

Among those present was Dan Santos, a plumber for the district. He said he was there because he viewed Sirpenski as a “true professional,” he said, who had always treated the maintenance department well.

“No one’s been able to tell us why this is even happening. That’s my big concern,” Santos said.

“I’m happy he’s getting the 62-day extension,” Nazarchyk said after the board voted to extend the contract, adding, “I think that’s fair as opposed to not extending it at all.”

t.townsend@theday.com

Twitter: @ConnecticuTess