NEW GLOUCESTER – Three candidates are vying for two seats on the SAD 15 Board of Directors in the June 8 town elections.

Incumbent Alan Rich, 53, of Cobb’s Bridge Road, has served one term after being elected as a write-in.

He serves as vice chairman of the SAD 15 Finance Committee and says he needs to continue the job he started three years ago.

“This is really a crossroad for infrastructure for the district. Educational programs are coming into place well,” he said.

Rich favors a renovation program using state Department of Education funds and bonds. A a list of improvements on all school buildings has been developed by the James Sewell Co.

“Interest rates are favorable for doing the rest. We are buying Band-Aids now with short-term money fixes. That is like buying a house on a credit card,” he said.

Rich said he favors an all-day kindergarten program, which will be decided by voters this month.

Rich has a bachelor’s degree from Amherst College and a dental degree from the University of Pennsylvania. A dentist in private practice in Portland, he is married with two children.

Steven Moran, 18, is salutatorian of the Class of 2004 at Gray-New Gloucester High School and wants to enter politics, he said.

“This would be a good experience to get involved with the community. There are issues involving capital improvement planning and the possible all-day kindergarten initiative,” he said.

Moran will graduate this month.

“I have been a New Gloucester resident for seven years. I registered to vote last week. I want to get involved with the world of politics,” he said. “I don’t have any pressing issues. But, I am just out of high school and I believe I have rapport and understanding of teachers and students and know what is happening in our local schools.

“If elected, I would make the trip back to attend meetings every two weeks though I will be a student at the University of Maine in Orono in the fall.”

The Valarie Road resident was a participant in Boys State, Boys Nation and the U.S. Senate Youth Program, and was state vice president of the National Honor Society. He was vice president of the junior class.

Sharon Vandermay, 41, is a homemaker and community volunteer who said she wants to have a bigger role in the education system.

“SAD 15 has a great administration and great group of educators in place. I have been involved in board activities and volunteering in the school for the past three years and want to play a greater role in supporting their quest for excellence in education in Gray/New Gloucester,” she said.

“SAD 15 is building a better relationship with the community, and my past experience in sales and marketing can support those efforts as well,” she said.

“Change is constant at the administrative level of the school system. Rules and regulations for Maine Learning Results and No Child Left Behind are constantly being revised. I want to see our administration continue supporting teaching and learning while monitoring the changes in rules and regulations before implementing change at the teaching level. I support stability in teaching and learning that has been achieved so far,” Vandermay said.

“Most school issues are complex. One of my strengths is being able to listen to all sides of an issue and weigh all the options before making important decisions. I am able to set my personal opinions aside if I see that a solution will be for the greater good,” she said.

Vandermay holds a bachelor’s degree from Ferris University in Big Rapids, Mich. She is a former president of the Block House Preschool board and trustee of the First Congregational Church of New Gloucester.

She is married to Hal Phillips and two children.