POLAND — The RSU 16 committee began the search for a new superintendent with Monday’s workshop session with Sandra MacArthur of the Maine School Management Association.

The committee’s goal is to have a new superintendent on board by July 1, 2013.

The district is currently headed by interim Superintendent Michael Wilhelm, who was hired in March when Dennis Duquette was placed on leave of absence.

When Duquette resigned in April, the board convinced Wilhelm, who came out of retirement, to stay on a full year to allow the board adequate time to conduct a careful search for a permanent replacement.

MacArthur outlined the process the committee should follow in the selection process and detailed the services the association could offer should the committee decide to contract for assistance in its search.

The basic costs to the district, according to MacArthur’s estimate, would be $2,200 plus some travel costs and costs for advertising.

While the committee took no action on whether to involve the association, it appointed five of its members to serve as the core of the superintendent selection committee.

Agreeing to serve were: Ellie Biron, Steve Holbrook, Mary Martin, Joe Parent and Scott Sawyer.

Representation from the district’s administrative staff and the general public will be added at a later date.

School Committee Chairman Mary Ella Jones said the intent was to advertise for the position in mid-December and conduct the first round of interviews in January in order to be in a position to offer the position the successful candidate in March.

Assistant Superintendent Tina Meserve reported that students at Poland Regional High School scored above state average in reading, math, writing and science for the first time in four years and yet failed to achieve scores that qualified in making adequate yearly progress.

Students at Bruce Whittier Middle School in Poland and Elm Street School in Mechanic Falls did achieve adequate yearly progress.

Students at Poland Community School achieved adequate yearly progress in reading but did not achieve it in math. Students at Minot Consolidated School failed to achieve adequate yearly progress in reading and math.

The School Committee also approved spending $11,700 from the district’s capital reserve account to pay for repairs to the Elm Street School’s septic system. Wilhelm reported that the system’s aging pump failed despite much tinkering and tender loving care on the part of Gary Purington.

Wilhelm also advised the committee that the telephone system at the central office appeared to be in serious need of replacement.

Copy the Story Link