LIVERMORE FALLS — Regional School Unit 73 directors voted 3-6-2 Thursday not to appoint Mark Bonnevie varsity football coach at Spruce Mountain High School for 2012-13.

The decision came after a 55-minute executive session.

They voted unanimously to appoint Mike Methvin as boys junior varsity baseball coach at Spruce Mountain Middle School.

They also voted unanimously, with Director Cindy Young of Livermore abstaining, to appoint Garrett Young to the position of junior varsity baseball coach at the high school.

Cindy Young is the mother of Garrett.

High school Principals Gilbert “Specs” Eaton of the North Campus in Jay and Steve Leunig of the South Campus in Livermore Falls, and Athletic Director Sally Boivin were called into executive session for about 27 minutes.

Middle School Principal Scott Albert was also there for a brief time.

Bonnevie was coach of the consolidated football team last fall during its first season and was previously coach at Jay High School.

Voting for him were directors Dan DiPompo, Tammy Dwinal-Shufelt and Vice Chairwoman Mary Redmond-Luce, all of Jay.

Opposed were directors Jackie Knight and Tammy Frost of Livermore Falls, Darcie Comstock of Jay and Cindy Young, Diane Gould and Tim Madden of Livermore.

Chairwoman Denise Rodzen and director Carmen Cullen, both of Livermore Falls, abstained.

Jay directors Michael Morrell and Vickie McLeod were absent.

The head football coach position will be reposted, and advertised if necessary.

During the public session at the beginning of the meeting a few parents said work needs to be done with football coaches talking and listening to players. One also said that some players are sitting on the bench not getting to play. Another recommended that the coach hold a summer football program to get to know the players and where the strengths and weaknesses are.

Rodzen suggested players talk to the coaches and tell them their feelings, and for the parents to talk to the coaches.

In other business, directors unanimously voted to approve a one-year contract with the RSU 73 Administrators Association, effective July 1, 2012, to June 30, 2013. The pact gives principals, assistant principal, special education director and assistant director a 1.5 percent pay increase.

The board tabled action on a personnel policy that covers employees who are not covered by a bargaining unit. The policy will go to the Policy Committee to discuss adding a fourth step under the vacation portion.

Redmond-Luce also requested that a policy be written on how the board will negotiate in the future with these employees.

Employee Brenda Merrill, who works as an administrative assistant in the Special Education Department, had asked in June 2011 if a fourth step could be added for vacations. She previously was a RSU 36 employee and had received four weeks vacation.

In the consolidated school system she falls under the policy for those that are not covered by a bargaining unit and gets three weeks vacation.

dperry@sunjournal.com

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