BUCKFIELD – The Board of Directors for SAD 39 unanimously named former Hartford/Sumner Elementary School Principal Richard Colpitts to succeed William Shuttleworth as superintendent Thursday.

Shuttleworth resigned, effective June 30, to take the superintendent’s position in School Union 47, which encompasses Arrowsic, Georgetown, Phippsburg, West Bath and Woolwich.

According to board Chairman Terry Hayes, choosing a replacement for Shuttleworth was a tough job, “but we decided on Richard Colpitts because of our past experience with him here in SAD 39.”

“We had several top quality candidates for the position but we decided where Rick knows the district, knows the community and knows the people he would be our best choice,” Hayes said.

For the past few years Colpitts has served as principal of the Crescent Park School in Bethel for SAD 44 and has also served that district as director of elementary education.

He will take over his new duties in SAD 39, which serves the towns of Buckfield, Hartford and Sumner, on July 1.