RUMFORD – A 32-year-old Jay man was named Mountain Valley High School’s new principal at Monday’s SAD 43 meeting.
The board also learned of some of the activities taking place to ensure a smooth transition for students from Virginia Elementary School to Meroby or Rumford elementary schools, set for the beginning of the next school year.
Matthew Gilbert, a former assistant principal at MVHS, was overwhelmingly approved by the board to head the secondary school. Two board members, Betty Barrett of Mexico and Frank DiConzo of Rumford, voted against his nomination. Anne Simmons-Edmunds of Byron and Tammy MacDonald of Mexico were absent.
Gilbert served as assistant principal at MVHS from December 2000 to June 2003. For the past two years, he has served as the principal of Livermore Falls Middle School, a school with just under 300 students. At MVHS, he will oversee a student population of nearly 600.
“I’m pretty excited. I had a real positive experience when I was here before. I enjoy being a part of the community,” he said, adding that he likes the positive direction, climate and culture in the district.
In a prepared statement, he wrote that he had been impressed by the professionalism of the staff, the community support, and the students’ positive and respectful attitude. He replaces Bruce Lindberg, who, after serving two years, has taken a position as headmaster of Lee Academy in eastern Maine.
Unanimously appointed on Monday was Diane Taylor-Moore as the district’s director of special services. She has served as interim director since her predecessor, Paige Coville, left for a similar position in January in eastern Maine.
Scott Drown, principal of Meroby Elementary School in Mexico, described a variety of events scheduled to help make Virginia students and their parents more comfortable with the autumn move to Meroby or Rumford elementary schools.
The board voted earlier in the year to end use of Virginia as an elementary school. Instead, a portion of the 55-year-old building will be used to house the district’s newly established Day Treatment program.
Drown, and Anne Chamberlin, principal of Rumford and Virginia, have planned Friendship Days, when Virginia students can meet with others in their grade level at their new schools. Also, open houses are being planned, with students providing Virginia parents and students tours of their new schools.
Drown said he hopes the annual fall open house can be held in August, rather than a few weeks after the beginning of the school year, to give Virginia students another chance to see their new schools.
About 65 Virginia students are slated to attend Meroby, with the remaining 40 or so to attend Rumford next fall.
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