POLAND — The Regional School Unit 16 board on Monday approved a 3 percent raise for Superintendent Tina Meserve each year for the next three years.

The move comes five months after the board extended her contract despite a crowd of parents and community members who said they were unhappy with her.

Although the superintendent is evaluated in the spring and her contract was last extended in August, Meserve said the board sets salary each January before budget season.

Meserve’s salary is $116,000 a year. After a 3 percent raise this year, her salary will be about $119,500.

Meserve said the 3 percent raise is in line with the average 3 percent increase given to teachers and support staff in the Poland, Minot and Mechanic Falls school system.

During the same meeting Monday, the board also voted to raise the pay of substitute educational technicians from $60 a day to $65 a day to meet the state’s new minimum wage, which increased to $10 an hour on Jan. 1.

The board also accepted the resignation of John Hawley, RSU 16’s director of operations. Hawley is leaving to become town manager in Naples, Meserve said.

Hawley’s last day will be Feb. 16.

The school system is searching for a new operations director. The position is particularly key during building projects and RSU 16 voters recently approved a $5.7 million renovation to the district’s combined middle and high school in Poland.

ltice@sunjournal.com