POLAND — The RSU 16 School Committee on Monday approved hiring all four of Superintendent Michael Wilhelm’s nominees for some top administrative positions.

Tina Meserve of Livermore was signed to a two-year contract as assistant superintendent, a new position created when school officials decided to fold three positions into two. The duties were formerly performed by a superintendent, business manager and curriculum coordinator and are now parceled out to a superintendent and an assistant superintendent.

Wilhelm noted that Meserve’s strength is in curriculum development. Meserve most recently served for four years as curriculum coordinator for the Augusta School Department. Her salary is $88,000.

Shawn Vincent of Auburn was approved for a two-year contract as principal of the Bruce M. Whittier Middle School. Vincent, with 16 years experience in education, has been at the middle school for 10 years, serving the past four as assistant principal. His salary was set at $79,614.

Richard Benoit of South Paris was approved for a two-year contract as principal of the Poland Community School. This past school year Benoit was principal of the East Grand School in Danforth. Prior to that, Benoit had taught at Oxford Hills Middle School in Paris for more than 20 years, where he also had served as assistant athletic director for the past four years. His salary was set at $74,267.

Kelly Marston of Oakland was approved for a two-year contract as assistant principal at the middle school and the Poland Community School. Marston has been a teacher for 18 years, having taught at schools in Winslow, New Gloucester, Gorham and South Portland. Her salary was set at $63,000.

In other business, the School Committee overturned, on a parent’s appeal, an earlier decision by the transportation subcommittee that would have required a Minot student to walk slightly more than a half-mile to a bus stop.

The School Committee agreed with Kelly MacKenzie of Fortin Drive that her case was one where the criteria adopted for consolidating school bus stops just didn’t work and that her daughter should be picked up at her home.

In a preliminary report on the district’s summer school program for elementary students, Angie Taylor praised people involved for developing a five-week program with “an engaging curriculum” that 125 students took advantage of. A full report will be made in September.

In his superintendent’s report, Wilhelm noted that he is working with the officials from the district’s three towns on how to proceed with a discussion on how the funding formula might be changed.

The School Committee elected Mary Ella Jones to serve as committee chairwoman for the coming year and Jack Wiseman to serve as vice chairman.

Copy the Story Link