LIVERMORE FALLS – SAD 36 directors voted unanimously Thursday to create a committee to search for a superintendent, rather than share one with other school systems.

Prior to the vote, each board member shared how they felt on the issue. Lynn Knight, Denise Rodzen and Cindy Young wanted to explore the option of sharing an administrator with neighboring systems such as Fayette, Jay, Winthrop and SAD 52 in Turner.

Directors Betsy DuBois, Mac Haynes, Elaine LaPointe, Fred Nadeau, Rod Newman, Ashley O’Brien and Ann Souther said they wanted the district to have its own superintendent.

Knight asked interim Superintendent David Wallace what would be the advantages of sharing and not sharing.

The biggest advantage, Wallace said, would be saving money if one or two other districts shared the cost of the position.

Former Superintendent Terry Despres’ salary was set at more than $103,000 for this year.

If the board agreed to share a superintendent then that person would need to share his or her time with other systems and wouldn’t be there all the time, Wallace said.

Chairman Ashley O’Brien said with the vote that came out of Livermore and Livermore Falls against consolidation it was a clear mandate that the district continue to stand alone.

Voters in Livermore Falls voted 91-125 against consolidation with Jay on Jan. 27, and Livermore residents voted 67-148 against it.

Wallace said he would like to see a search committee consist of eight or nine people that would include school directors, a representative of each bargaining unit, an administrator and two community members. The committee would be advisory to the school board with the final approval left to the board as a whole.

Wallace said he would like to have the board superintendent selected by April 17.

In other business, directors decided to:

• Adopt a policy to prohibit wireless devices such as cell phones to be used during school hours at the school.

• Approve procedures to prohibit use of a cell phones, PDAs, MP3 players, iPods and electronic games during school hours or during school activities. The devices must be turned off and not simply set to vibrate. Cameras and camera phones are also prohibited in school locker rooms.

• Extend district insurance with Maine School Management Association. It should have gone out to bid but was put on hold due to possible consolidation, Wallace said. Rodzen said the association has consistently been the low bidder in the past.

• Have three directors serve on a task force with Jay School Committee and others to look at areas to save money. Haynes, Rodzen and Souther volunteered.