GRAY – The SAD 15 board adjourned a marathon week of special executive hearings on dismissing a district administrator in the wee hours of Thursday without taking action.

Chairman Dan Maguire, who heads the 11 member board, said Thursday that Wednesday’s meeting, the third consecutive session this week, began at 6 p.m. and adjourned at 2:30 a.m. Thursday.

“We concluded our special meeting but not concluded our business. No special meeting is scheduled. We have our regularly scheduled meeting next Wednesday (in New Gloucester) and may consider an executive session at that time,” he said.

Maguire explained the hearing process.

“The board is a quasi-judicial board that serves as a judge and jury,” he said. “There are some circumstances under which it (action) would never come to a vote.”

At any point the employee might resign, for example, or the board, through the superintendent, may negotiate a settlement with the employee, who would then resign.

The board received no extra remuneration for roughly 19 hours of hearing time this week.

“We are only paid $10 per regular board meeting or $20 per month, but get no remuneration for special meetings, community forums, committee work and other school related responsibilities,” said Maguire.

The hearing agenda that began on Monday lists the executive session for a personnel matter and an action item to deal with the personnel matter. The board was recently asked by interim Superintendent Vickie Burns to consider the personnel matter to deal with administrator Brian McDonnell, director of finance and operations.

She is McDonnell’s direct supervisor and took over the job in mid-July when Michael Wood resigned. She left her position as director of teaching and learning for the one-year appointment until the board finds a superintendent.

The board and superintendent remain silent on discussing details about the charges against the employee and refuse to name the employee. However, McDonnell told the Sun Journal that he was the subject of the possible dismissal. He is the district’s first business manager and administrator who heads up the district’s food service, custodial and maintenance department, transportation, technology and support personnel.

“I’m not one to cave in,” said McDonnell earlier this week. “I have a lot of pride in this district and I’m a taxpayer.”

McDonnell lives in Gray. He could not be reached by telephone on Thursday.

The school board’s hearing officer is Bryan Dench of Skelton, Taintor and Abbott of Auburn.

Burns’ legal counsel is Bruce Smith of Drummond, Woodsum and McMahon of Portland. Calls to Burns were not returned Thursday.

McDonnell is represented by John Geismar of Bonneau and Geismar of Lewiston.

Maguire said the district has overspent its legal budget for the year at this point.

The board’s regular meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 19, at the Meeting House in New Gloucester.

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