OXFORD – The SAD 17 board approved changing the top administrative positions at the Hebron Station School on Monday night to accommodate higher student enrollment.

The position of half-time principal will be added for fiscal year 2005 and the teaching-principal position will be replaced with a lead teacher.

Greg Knight currently serves as teaching-principal.

Superintendent Mark Eastman, back from hip-replacement surgery about four weeks ago, explained that the administrative positions were based on student population.

He said roughly from:

• 50-100 students require a teaching principal.

• 101 to 150 students require a half-time principal and lead teacher.

• 151-300 students require full-time principal and lead teacher.

• 301-400 students require a principal and half-time vice principal.

• 400 or more students require a full-time principal and vice principal.

According to district documents, the net impact on the budget will be an increase of approximately $29,739.

The board voted to eliminate the positions of principal at the Mildred Fox Elementary School in Paris and the Madison Avenue School effective June 30, 2005, because the new Paris elementary school will be open by then.

The board approved creating principal and assistant principal positions for the new school, which is projected to have more than 450 students.

John Parkman, head of the district guidance department, gave an update on the scholarship program.

He said his department brings in new scholarships every year and noted the strong community support for the students.

Eastman told the board there was about $4 million in the district and that scholarships were created from the interest earned on investments.

He said when the market was strong, the interest equaled about 8 to 10 percent of the principal. During the past two years, when the market has been basically flat, the interest has been about 5 percent of the principal.

Eastman said he felt the interest may be a bit higher than 5 percent this year.

Pam Merz, eighth-grade language arts instructor at the Oxford Hills Middle School, was honored as staff person of the month for March.

She has been at the middle school for six years and has been teaching for 19 years.

“She’s a gifted educator and shares her skill with colleagues,” Eastman said. “She has been a wonderful teacher, wonderful for a long time.”

[email protected]