RUMFORD – The SAD 43 board learned of a fifth retirement at Tuesday’s board meeting, bringing the number of years of teacher experience to more than 150 that will be leaving the district in June.
Linda Percival, a third-grade teacher at Meroby Elementary School, resigned after more than 20 years in the district.
She joins Meroby fourth-grade teacher Rich Plante, Mountain Valley Middle School teacher John Wallace, Mountain Valley High School mathematics teacher, Dawn Allen, and third-grade Meroby teacher Richard Nile.
A similar wave of retirements hit the district a few years ago when teachers with a combined total of more than 200 years experience left.
In other matters, Superintendent Jim Hodgkin said Wednesday that the ongoing budget process includes the addition of several new locally funded positions. These include a part-time mathematics teacher at the high school, a second-grade teacher at Rumford Elementary School, two alternative education teachers at the middle school, an educational technician at Meroby, a districtwide psychological examiner and a Jobs for Maine Graduates teacher.
Slated for elimination are two middle school teachers, a districtwide mathematics specialist, a districtwide gifted and talented teacher, and a part-time business teacher at the high school. The additions or reductions may be changed as the board works through the budget development process.
Several other positions were also added to next year’s budget; however, these would be funded through federal money.
Four of these positions would be associated with the Pennacook Learning Center. They are: an assistant special services director to oversee the day treatment program, a social worker, educational technician, and special education teacher. A literacy specialist position for the high school would also be federally funded.
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