The Buckfield superintendent will take on the same role in the West Bath school union.
BUCKFIELD – SAD 39 Superintendent William Shuttleworth will be leaving the district at the end of the school year to take a superintendent’s job in West Bath.

Shuttleworth submitted a letter of resignation to the district’s Board of Directors late last week telling the board that he will become superintendent of schools in School Union 47.

He said, “School Union 47 is made up of Arrowsic, Georgetown, Phippsburg, West Bath and Woolwich, which is my home area. And I have enjoyed my five years here in SAD 39, but I want to return home and this is the opportunity for me to do it.”

Shuttleworth, who took over the SAD 39 leadership in 1999, has been a visible leader, working closely with students and staff. He has been instrumental in bringing the district in line with the Maine Learning Results and the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

Board Chairman Terry Hayes said she wasn’t that surprised to receive his resignation.

She said, “We had talked about his wanting to return to his home area recently. But he has done a wonderful job for us, and I congratulate him on being elected to his new position. He has done very well, and we have been fortunate to have him.”

As to finding a replacement for Shuttleworth, she said, “We are a bit overwhelmed by the task, but there are good people out there who are available.”

“William has given us five years of great service and provided us with quality programs that have raised the academic expectations and outcomes for all our students. We will miss William’s positive energy and influence but we all wish him the best in his new position,” Hayes said.

The board has planned a series of meetings over the next two weeks to begin the search for a new superintendent in hopes of filling the position as soon as possible. SAD 39 is comprised of the towns of Buckfield, Hartford and Sumner.