BUCKFIELD – In a 7-2 vote, the SAD 39 Board of Directors agreed to expel a student for disciplinary reasons Wednesday. The vote came after a student discipline hearing during an executive session of the board.

Board member Stacy Raymond of Sumner made the motion that the board accept Superintendent Richard Colpitts’ recommendation to expel the student “until there is a plan made with the administration to include means to address (the student’s) anger, that he writes and delivers the apologies necessary, and there’s an agreement to limit the individual’s contact with the other student” involved.

The student’s name, school and details of the incident that led to the expulsion were not made public.

In other action, the board voted unanimously to continue to fund the position of superintendent of schools. Colpitts explained that this vote is a formality required annually by state law. The board will vote on the superintendent’s salary in January.

Two actions were taken regarding special education social services. Colpitts told the board that the position of licensed social worker, which until now has been contracted outside of the school, “really should be an employee position, not a contracted service.” He explained that the service provided by the district’s social worker “does not comply with the Department of Labor’s definition of contracted services.”

Colpitts recommended that the board approve a social worker job description and approve his nomination of Mary Hickey to the position. Hickey currently serves as a contracted social worker for the district. Both recommendations were approved by the board.

Colpitts pointed out that the position “will continue to be paid out of Medicaid reimbursement with no cost locally.” Although the position’s salary does not change, the district will now be required to provide benefits, which Colpitts said will also be covered by Medicaid.