Superintendent to retire as of July 1

RSU 36 Superintendent Judith Harvey has announced she is retiring from the school district on July 1.

- Sun Journal File Photo

LIVERMORE FALLS – Judith Harvey, the superintendent of Regional School Unit 36, has announced she is retiring from the position as of July 1.

She is on vacation this week and unavailable for comment. She sent the board a letter Friday announcing her decision.

Harvey, of Hallowell, started the job on July 1, 2009. Harvey took over the position from two interim superintendents who helped the district move forward after former Superintendent Terry Despres resigned in January 2009.

She had previously worked in the Thomaston area school district.

In Harvey's letter to the board, she stated, “It is with regret that I let you know that I will be retiring on July 1, 2010. There are many reasons causing me to make this decision, some personal and some professional, but not the least of which is the high level of stress associated with the superintendency in this era of too many responsibilities and too little time. Life beyond work has seemed near impossible for a while now, and I have five grandsons just waiting for more of my attention.”

In addition, she has been offered a one-year part-time interim position, she said.

“This offer came at an opportune time to transition me to full-time retirement from more than full-time work, something that is important to me,” she wrote. “I have very much appreciated the opportunity to help the district get beyond some of its past issues and problems. There are good people here who want the best for the children of Livermore and Livermore Falls. I wish you luck as you move through the challenges ahead and look forward to watching progress from afar.”

RSU 36 board Chairman Ashley O'Brien said the board will accept Harvey's resignation at its meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 11, at Cedar Street Learning Complex. He plans to ask for an executive session to discuss where they go from here, he said. He has asked the one of the former superintendents who helped the district, Dave Wallace ,to discuss the issue with them, O'Brien said.

dperry@sunjournal.com