The Sheepscot Valley Regional School Unit (SVRSU) board of directors voted unanimously Thursday to conduct a search “both internally and externally” for a new superintendent.
Presently, Jay McIntire is superintendent of Wiscasset, Frank Boynton of School Union 132, and Greg Potter of Union 133.
SVRSU interim secretary Martha Witham was hired as interim superintendent. She is part-time superintendent at Richmond High School and was formerly superintendent in SAD 13 and Bath.
Witham clarified that the SVRSU board could hire her replacement before its official July 1 startup date. “I’m not anticipating any (particular) length of time” at the post, she said.
Lester Sheaffer of Whitefield was voted chairman, and Tom Birmingham of Windsor vice chair.
Towns in the new RSU are Wiscasset, Westport Island, Alna, Whitefield, Chelsea, Windsor, Somerville, and Palermo.
Hard work ahead
The 20-member board’s first meeting Jan. 29 was a five-hour slog with what one director called a “daunting agenda.” More hard work was predicted in the months ahead.
Items hashed over included the board’s liability, its authority to prepare a budget and the role of various committees.
Speaking of liability, Boynton cautioned that any action the group takes “could have liability ramifications.” While Maine School Management Association presently covers Wiscasset, Alna, and Westport Island, Boynton said that $1268 from Kyes Insurance Co. would cover everyone. The board approved Kyes as the carrier through June 30.
Because there are numerous tasks, committees were formed to deal with finance, policy, personnel/negotiations and an ad hoc superintendent search committee.
The SVRSU plan mandates that a finance committee be established and that it meet with each local school board “to review and assume responsibility for the following year’s budget at whatever state it exists at that time.” This work will entail getting subsidy figures from the state, Witham added.
Witham said the local boards cannot make any commitment for next year, “so technically, starting today, it’s your responsibility.” The local boards are essentially “lame ducks;” they cease on June 30 and don’t have authority to hire employees or negotiate contracts, she said.
There are five labor contracts that are expiring, noted McIntire. “It’s going to be a great ride to get employee contracts in sync,” predicted Potter.
On the schools’ current policies, Witham said she’d been advised that the RSU board should adopt a resolution saying that policies stay in place until new ones have been adopted.
Stressing the importance of policy, Boynton said the Maine School Management Association “is ready to be helpful to the full board and policy subcommittee.”
Of immediate concern to the three superintendents was the ability to jump individually on heating oil and fuel quotes or bids. Both Joan Morin of Whitefield and Witham were leery of granting too much authority. “It’s not efficient,” Witham said. “Not everyone knows what the others are doing.”
McIntire commented that a signature is needed “the day the price is given.” There was prolonged debate about whether and how to grant the administrators the power to act in a timely fashion.
The directors eventually approved having McIntire, Boynton, and Potter work together to lock in at the best price fuel and heating oil contracts for fiscal year 2009-10.
During the interim period, the superintendent’s and board’s costs are to be paid according to the cost sharing agreement. The RSU plan authorizes $80,000 in startup costs. The RSU can also apply for various state grants, for legal expenses and curriculum help, for example.
Board terms
The following board members will serve terms as indicated: Alna – William Stafford (2 year term), Albert Lawrence (3 years); Chelsea – Allen Cote (1 year), Sherrill Hallett (2), and Richard Cote (3); Palermo – Edward Robert Temple (2), and Simeon Blake Brown (3); Somerville – Eric Peaslee (2), and Christopher Johnson (3); Westport Island – Richard DeVries (2), and Michelle Chartier (3); Whitefield – Hilary Holm (1), Joan Morin (2), and Lester Sheaffer (3); Windsor – Gary Emond (1), Thomas Birmingham (2), and F. Gerard Nault (3); Wiscasset – Eugene Stover (1), Shawn Carlson (2), and Kimberly Andersson (3).
According to Dept. of Education official Jim Rier, the terms officially start July 1. Witham said, “You have to serve one year, to July 2010. Then you’re elected at your town meeting, so your first term ends 2011. It’s like a life sentence,” she quipped.
Chairs of the committees are as follows: Gerry Nault, finance; Christopher Johnson, policy; Albert Lawrence, personnel; Hilary Holm, negotiations; Tom Birmingham, ad hoc superintendent search.
Meetings of the full board will be held the first and third Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. in Whitefield, with the next gathering on Feb. 5. Committee meetings will be the second and fourth Thursdays.
