WALES — Regional School Unit 4 directors elected Katy Grondin as superintendent on Wednesday. She begins her new role July 1.

Grondin comes with extensive experience, as the superintendent of Auburn schools from 2011 to 2020 and most recently as the assistant superintendent of Augusta schools.

She succeeds Andrew Carlton who served since 2017. He was named city manager for Gardiner in April.

Grondin has had a long career in education, beginning as a teacher in Auburn, assistant principal and principal before becoming superintendent.

Reached on Friday, Grondin said she is really excited about working for RSU 4. “They’ve done incredible work around proficiency-based education, and I think it’s a really good match for my skills and for what the district is looking for moving forward.”

Grondin will have to hit the ground running, because the communities of Wales, Sabattus and Litchfield face some critical financial decisions on whether to move forward with a proposal to build an addition to Oak Hill Middle School in Sabattus.

It would essentially create two schools in one, housing students from the proposed closure of Sabattus and Libby Tozier primary schools, the latter in Litchfield. Both buildings were constructed in the 1970s, according to board Chairman Robert English, and are in need of major upgrades and structural work if they are to stay open.

“It’s three towns, but one district serving all students and this is a great opportunity to bring them all under the same roof,” Grondin added.

Cost estimates from 2019 indicated the repairs and upgrades would be between $7 million and $8 million, in addition to more than $500,000 in operational costs per year for both schools. Estimates for an addition are still being tallied and will be revealed at a public meeting June 22 at 6:30 p.m. at the Oak Hill High School gym in Wales.

Final project costs will also be provided to voters in a bulk mailing prior to the referendum, which is set for Aug. 9. The project is not eligible for state funding and will require a bond, which will be divided among the three towns using the current formula for school budgets. If approved, the project would go out to bid next summer and take two years, with an anticipated opening in fall of 2025.

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