Anthony Mazza will serve an 18-month tour of duty.
By Eileen M. Adams
Staff Writer

RUMFORD – The war in Iraq has caused the resignation of a Mountain Valley Middle School baseball coach.

SAD 43 Superintendent James Hodgkin said the resignation of Anthony Mazza from the position was announced at Monday’s board meeting. Mazza is also a full-time educational technician in the district. That position will be held for him until he returns from an 18-month tour of active duty.

Hodgkin said Mazza’s call-up is the first for the district.

In other matters, the board met in several closed sessions to discuss the upcoming contract negotiation process. Hodgkin said the board will meet to prepare for the negotiations with the teachers’ bargaining unit soon after the first of the year. The current three-year contract expires on July 1, 2004.

Two closed sessions have also been set for later in the month to begin negotiations with the district’s educational technician bargaining unit.

That contract also expires July 1.

Hodgkin said he hopes that one more session, set for Wednesday with representatives of the food service bargaining unit, will settle a new contract. The contract for that bargaining unit expired July 1, 2003.

The board decided to forego a formal evaluation of the superintendent, generally conducted in December of each year, because Hodgkin began his work with SAD 43 in August. Instead, the formal evaluation will be conducted in May 2004.

In the closed portion of the Dec. 15 board meeting, board members will hold an informal evaluation of Hodgkin as well as offer a contract that will include salary and term length.

eadams@sunjournal.com

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