In a terse statement issued after an executive session that concluded at 8:35 p.m., board Chairman Mary Ella Jones said, “Business Manager Rick Kusturin has resigned from his employment by RSU No. 16 effective April 23, 2012, after serving as Business Manager for RSU No. 16 and its predecessor, School Union 29, for five years.”

 

No reason was given for the resignation.

 

On Feb. 27, the RSU 16 committee put Kusturin and Superintendent Dennis Duquette on leaves of absence.

 

On Feb. 29, the board announced it hired Michael Wilhelm to serve as interim superintendent, taking office March 5.

 

On April 9, at a regularly scheduled meeting, the board accepted Duquette’s resignation, saying only that the resignation agreement would be effective April 23.

 

The school board gave no reason why it had put the two on leaves of absence and, citing rules governing what can be said about “personnel issues,” gave no reasons for Duquette’s departure as well.

 

Jones also noted that Kusturin’s position is being eliminated in a restructuring plan for the Central Office that has been included in next year’s proposed budget.

 

“As part of an effort to reduce administrative expenditures and streamline RSU administration, the Budget Committee has proposed that the RSU school board eliminate the positions of Business Manager and Curriculum Director and combine them in the single position of assistant superintendent,” Jones said.

 

After the executive session, Jones also reported that the board had agreed to enter negotiations with Wilhelm to serve a one-year term as superintendent, from July 1, 2012, through June 30, 2013.