SABATTUS — The school board for Wales, Litchfield and Sabattus schools is reviewing applicants for the position of principal of Sabattus Primary School and Central schools, said Business Manager Chris Trenholm.

The goal is to have one new principal for the two schools on board when school opens Aug. 27, Trenholm said.

The new principal will replace Beverly Coursey, who left in June to be principal of Nathan Clifford Elementary School in Portland.

Coursey began serving as principal of Sabattus Primary and Central Schools in 2001, coming from Ellsworth. Enrollment at the two schools is about 500.

In the course of her years in Sabattus, “we created a lot of school improvement plans in math and reading,” she said. The changes improved test scores, she said.

During her tenure, teachers came up with some creative events, such as a game-show style competition “Are You Smarter Than a Sixth-Grader?” which brought parents into the school.

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One new practice Coursey will introduce to Nathan Clifford Elementary is the morning meeting. “The whole school gets together to say the Pledge of Allegiance, read a poem, have guest speakers,” Coursey said.

The daily assembly takes 10 to 15 minutes, but it’s time well-spent, she said. All of the teachers know the students and everyone goes over the rules together. “It makes a wonderful climate.”

Coursey said she’ll miss the people in the Sabattus schools. Whoever replaces her “will be very lucky,” she said.

 
— Staff Writer Bonnie Washuk


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