PARIS —The Oxford Hills school board’s Sept. 8 meeting marked an official changing of the guard, as three new administrators presented their first reports to directors and a fourth was confirmed.

And the new era was punctuated by the board’s vote to change the day and time of future business meetings.

Starting Oct. 24, the board will meet the first and third Wednesdays of the month at 6 p.m. instead of 7.

Changing meeting days was first broached by former acting Superintendent Steve Ciembroniewicz when he assumed the position in July. A revision requires that board meeting policy be changed.

The policy committee was directed to rewrite the policy, which the board unanimously approved in its first reading Aug. 17. The second reading also passed unanimously as presented Sept. 8.

Interim Superintendent Jonathon Ross then proposed setting future board meetings for Wednesdays at 6 p.m., which was also approved with no opposition.

A final reading of policy on student use of cellphones and other electronic devices was approved by all directors, except Shauna Broyer of Oxford, who voted against it. 

A policy banning cellphones was put in place at the beginning of the last school year. Since then the Maine Legislature has banned student personal devices statewide. The district’s policy required minor edits to match state statute wording.

The board also voted to approve Ross’ appointment of Jeffrey Weaver as new district safety coordinator. Weaver attended the meeting to introduce himself, joking that from his move from Alabama he is finding everyone he meets has an accent.

Weaver formerly worked as a plant manager at Dynasty Fab in Mobile, Alabama, a firm in the aerospace field. Prior to that he was in law enforcement, working as patrol officer, school resource officer, deputy sheriff and a private game warden.

In his administrative update Ross talked about Oxford Hills’ middle and elementary school construction projects. The new Oxford Hills Middle School on Pine Street in Paris is moving forward on schedule.

Soil tests are pending at the new proposed site for SAD 17’s consolidated elementary school. The location has not been disclosed.

Former Superintendent Heather Manchester will continue to facilitate the elementary school project until it is brought to a districtwide referendum next June.

Ross gave district principals high marks for a mostly incident-free school opening of the 2026-27 academic year. 

“There were fewer snags than I was expecting for such a large district,” he told directors, adding that he found the students to be pretty great, too.

New Assistant Superintendent Amy Marx also presented her first administrative update. Marx said her early priorities are to identify areas for improvement, starting with SAD 17’s website and increasing news updates and communications.

She said that during her first several days on the job she visited the elementary schools in Harrison, Hebron, Norway, Paris, Oxford and Otisfield, the two middle school campuses in Paris and Oxford, and Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School in Paris, and is acquainting herself with building administrators.

The district also includes Waterford and West Paris, which no longer have schools. Agnes Gray Elementary School in West Paris closed abruptly in 2024 due to unsafe conditions, and students moved to Paris Elementary School. Waterford Memorial School closed in 2025 and students were moved to Harrison Elementary School.

SAD 17’s new technology director, Marc Galli, was also introduced during the meeting. He told directors that since he started July 1 his focus has been on upgrading Wi-Fi at the middle and high schools and on exterior door installations at all school buildings.

He noted an increase of phishing schemes hitting SAD 17’s systems, a surge that other districts are also dealing with. He advised that he is working with outside consultants to enhance security and will have an update for the board in the near future.

The department recently lost two IT technicians and hiring replacements is an urgent priority, Galli said.

Directors also voted to approve an employee contract with the Oxford Hills Educational Support Personnel Association.

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