The board also appointed four new members.
By Eileen M. Adams
Staff Writer

RUMFORD – Jim Aylward will again be coaching Mountain Valley High School varsity football.

The SAD 43 board reconsidered its vote of earlier in the month against his re-instatement following a 30-minute closed session. When the vote was taken, Aylward got his post back by a weighted vote of 538-264. Voting for appointing him were Rumford representatives Chris Dickson, Tracey Higley, Michael Papsadora and Diane Paterson, and Mexico board members Amy Bernard and Jarrud Dumas.

Voting not to reinstate were Rumford board members Arthur Boivin and Linda Westleigh, Mexico representative Betty Barrett and Byron member Anne Simmons. Absent were Roxbury member Mark Touchette, who had voted to hire Aylward at the last meeting, Rumford member Mary Hickey and Mexico board member Peter Zanoni.

The board’s decision on June 3 not to reappoint Aylward to the position he has held since SAD 43 and the Rumford School Department merged in 1989 was met with a huge outcry from many parents and students since the decision was made.

About 50 of those people attended Monday’s board meeting.

Anthony Glazier, a SAD 43 parent, said he was baffled that Aylward was not reappointed.

“He had the support of the superintendent, the principal and others. Why would the board vote any other way?” he asked.

Glazier described Aylward’s outstanding record that included 104 wins to 37 losses over the years, conference championships and conference awards for some of Mountain Valley’s players.

Others said Aylward put family and school success ahead of football, and regularly set up study sessions for athletes who needed the help.

“The school board would make a terrible mistake not to reinstate him. He benefits the kids and the school. This man should be coaching for Mountain Valley High School,” said Tom Rowe, a former Mountain Valley High School principal who originally appointed Aylward to the position.

Aylward, 41, taught language arts and social studies at Mountain Valley Middle School until last year when he took a high school English position in the Rangeley School Department.

Also on Monday, the board held its annual reorganization meeting. Former Vice Chairman Arthur Boivin was elected chairman, replacing Barrett. Westleigh was elected vice chairwoman, replacing Boivin.

New board members Bernard, Jarrud, Papsadora and Paterson were welcomed.

Following the public portion of the meeting, the board entered three closed-door sessions. The first was to receive an update on the search for a new superintendent, another was on a personnel matter, and a third was to discuss bus driver/custodian negotiations.

eadams@sunjournal.com

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