BETHEL – After holding an executive session to review Superintendent David Murphy’s contract Monday, the Board of Directors for SAD 44 voted unanimously to give Murphy a five-year extension running through 2010.

Murphy said the extension is effective July 1, 2005.

“My current contract runs out next June,” he said, “so the extension begins in July. It couldn’t be considered as starting now, as the district policy only allows up to five years on administrative contracts.”

Murphy has been employed in SAD 44 for 21 years, beginning in 1984. He has served as principal at both the Woodstock and Andover elementary schools.

He served in that capacity until 1988, when the Andover School was dropped from his contract, allowing him to take on the position of curriculum director along with continuing his leadership at Woodstock.

In 1990 he moved from Woodstock to become principal of the Crescent Park School in Bethel, the district’s largest elementary school. He also was Title 1 director for the district.

He then served as principal of all three district elementary schools until 2001, when he took over as principal of Telstar middle and high schools in Bethel.

He became superintendent in 2002.