After less than two years on the job, RSU/MSAD 40 Supt. Frank Boynton announced his retirement, effective Aug. 31.
RSU/MSAD 40 School Board Chairman Bonnie Davis-Micue said the board respectfully and regretfully voted to accept Boynton’s decision at their meeting on May 5.
“He brought strength and dedication to the district,” said Davis-Micue on May 6. “I wish him all manner of success and am glad he gets to dedicate more than 51 days of his life to something other than a job.”
The school board hired Boynton, who has spent 37 years in education, in January 2009.
Davis-Micue said the school board has not started searching for a replacement but anticipates having the post filled before Boynton’s August retirement.
“We’re still somewhat reeling from his decision,” she said. “We’ll meet soon and begin the search process.”
In a telephone interview on May 9, Boynton said he enjoyed many aspects of his tenure in the district, but “just felt it was the right time.”
Boynton turns the required the age for retirement – 59 and a half – in August.
Boynton said he enjoyed working with the students and participating in various activities around the district. He is particularly proud of the district’s work to revamp the curriculum. “I think that was important, and we accomplished something for the district,” he said.
His career started as a seventh grade teacher in Millinocket, where he taught for 14 years. Boynton then served as principal in Steuben, the Woodstock School, Durham Elementary and Chelsea for a total of 14 years.
Boynton has the distinction of being the only superintendent of the former Union 132, which included schools in Whitefield, Jefferson and Chelsea. Union 132 formed with Boynton at the helm and disbanded eight years later. He then became superintendent of RSU/MSAD 40.
Over the course of his career, his wife and three children followed him as he moved from school to school, but when the kids got older, Boynton’s family elected to stay in Durham.
Boynton has an apartment in Waldoboro he stays in from Sunday night through Friday – unless he attends a weekend event – when he returns home to his wife in Durham. “She counted 51 days last year that I was home,” Boynton said.
“It’s the expectation of the job, and I fulfill those expectations,” Boynton said, “If you’re going to do the job well, you get involved, and I enjoy the things I’m involved in here.”
Boynton said the summer will be devoted to organizing work around the district and preparing for the new superintendent.
“I’m certainly going to do something in the future. I don’t know what it might be,” Boynton said, “but now it’s time for me to get back and spend some time at home.”
