BETHEL – After her unanimous re-election Monday, Kelly Scotti began her fifth consecutive year as chairman of the school board for SAD 44, which includes the towns of Andover, Bethel, Greenwood, Newry and Woodstock.

Scotti’s nomination and election came with no discussion and no opposition as the rest of the board commented on her dedication to the position and the fine job she has done.

Scotti represents the town of Andover.

Elected to continue as vice-chairman for another year was Becky Cummings of Bethel, and for vice-chairman pro-tempore, Lainey Cross was the board’s choice. Cummings and Cross also won unanimous approval from the board and ran unopposed.

All top positions on the board traditionally run for one year.

After the election of officers, Telstar Car Show Coordinator Linda Howe announced that her committee will be sponsoring the 3rd annual edition of the show from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday, July 19. The show, which benefits special programs for students at the Telstar Middle and High School in Bethel, is being offered in conjunction with Bethel’s annual Mollyockett Day and admission costs are set at $2 per person.

“We are having the show in conjunction with Mollyockett Day so stop in on the way by and enjoy the show,” said Howe.

Superintendent David Murphy said, “Linda and her committee have done a tremendous job since the first year of the show in 2001 on the car show. There is always a lot of good stuff at the show and it is a great help to our students at Telstar.”

In other business, the board voted to give Lee Graham a one-year contract as curriculum coordinator for the district.

According to Murphy, Graham comes to SAD 44 from SAD 21 in the Dixfield area. She is a graduate of Colby College and the University of Southern Maine where she received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Her masters is in the field of educational leadership with a focus on educational assessment. She also has taught 5th- and 6th-grade students as well as social studies, science and gifted and talented classes at the secondary level.

“Lee has received very high marks and been a leader in assessment at SAD 21. She will be in charge of curriculum development from grades K-12 and will maximize what we’re doing with our curriculum. She will work with all teachers and administrators and I’m sure she will be a major asset to the district,” said Murphy.

Also elected to staff positions were Jolene Littlehale as teaching principal at the Woodstock Elementary School, Carla Seneca as special education teacher as the Crescent Park School in Bethel, and Mike Bailey as physical education and health teacher at Telstar Middle and High School. Also Crescent Park School Principal Richard Colpits was chosen as the district’s Title I coordinator for the coming year.

Rebecca Kuvaja was hired as full-time secretary for the superintendent’s office.

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