NEW GLOUCESTER – Superintendent Michael Wood announced Wednesday that he was named finalist for a similar slot by the Nashoba Regional School Committee in central Massachusetts earlier this week.

Negotiations are under way by the Nashoba School Committee to bring Wood to Lancaster, Mass., to run the K-12 district comprised of Bolton, Lancaster and Stow. The district has 3,000 students.

At this point, Wood has not resigned from his current post, nor has he accepted a contract with Nashoba.

Wood joined SAD 15 four years ago when he replaced former Superintendent Judith Lucarelli, who became Maine’s deputy commissioner of the Department of Education.

Prior to that, Wood was superintendent, principal and special education director for 275 students in Pownal.

The 11-member school board of Gray and New Gloucester directors met in executive session to discuss personnel at the end of Wednesday’s meeting.

Chairman Dan Maguire of Gray said no action would be taken.

Wood is required to give 60 days notice to the board to vacate his post, he said. He is beginning his second three-year contract.

This spring Wood was named one of three finalists for another Massachusetts superintendent post. He said he and his wife want to be closer to other family members.

Since Wood’s tenure, he said, he is most proud of the advances in technology and its integration with the district’s curriculum. And, the curriculum planning, assessments and planning work is advancing in recent years.

“I am very pleased about the resolution of the contract and negotiations and that resolution with staff,” he said. This year SAD 15 was in protracted contract dispute with three unions representing teachers, principals and support staff. All have been settled, the last with custodians, bus drivers, secretaries, education technicians and food service workers earlier this month.

Since his arrival, Wood said, “I learned there is value to take time to build relationships. And, I learned to respect history. It is critical that people show respect with people.”

In other business, the board heard several Russell School parents’ worries about locating an adult education program in the kindergarten through grade-two building next fall.

Chris Small of Gray said, “I don’t think elementary school is an appropriate place. We live in a time right now where fingerprinting all personnel and background checks are done. In GED (programs) there are probably high-risk students with social issues and family issues.”

Small told the board to use instead portable classrooms in a separate location away from young students.

The board would not engage in conversation on the issue since it was a nonagenda item. Small was told to contact the chairman of the board or the superintendent for future discussion.

“It feels like the board doesn’t want to hear the concerns of the parents because you are not willing to discuss it,” Small said.

Another parent said her fact finding revealed that 14 of 15 area schools do not blend the adult education and elementary populations together.