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MSAD 58 submits AOS plan, retains superintendent through school year

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PHILLIPS – The school board voted to submit a reorganization plan to the state Thursday, which would effectively create a shared business office between MSAD 58 and MSAD 74. The board hopes to hear back from the Department of Education soon, in order to set up a possible referendum in February.


Quenten Clark

The AOS would create a single central office, including a superintendent, business office and special education administration, which would provide support for both districts. Immediate, projected savings for MSAD 58 include half a superintendent’s position as well as some savings garnered through the consolidation of the two districts’ business offices. MSAD 58 and MSAD 74 already share a special eduction director.

The formation would make MSAD 58 a complying district with the consolidation law, allowing it to retain a subsidy penalty it had been forced to pay.

The vote was not unanimous, with two directors voting against sending the plan to the state, and there was some discussion before the decision. Director Gerald “Mike” Pond, of Strong, said he felt the process had been rushed and wasn’t convinced it was in the best interests of the district. He said he was concerned that a single person couldn’t adequately cover the position of superintendent, or special education director, for both districts. Pond had voiced similar concerns at Tuesday’s Regional Planning Committee.

“I think sometimes we’re doing things that look like we’re generating savings,” Pond said, “at the detriment of [the students’] education.” Pond went on to say that the idea may be workable, but that there were too many “loose ends.”

Chair Judy Dill, of Kingfield, said she supported the plan as a first step, seeing opportunities in the future to collaborate with MSAD 74. 

“I think the other things will come,” Dill said, “but this is a start.”

Director Alan Morse, of Phillips, said he didn’t think the DOE would pass the plan as written. The AOS proposal is close to the absolute minimum level of collaboration required by law. For example, a shared transportation administration is a requirement, which the RPC addressed by including $5,000 to stipend an employee to fill out transportation-related paperwork for the DOE.

“The state is going to make hash of it,” Morse predicted.

Pond and Director Mary Jane Thorndike, of Phillips, voted against sending the AOS, saying they wanted more time to consider the issue. The other seven directors were in favor of submission.

“Try, we’ve got to try,” Director Sue Fotter, of Eustis, said. “It beats closing a school. It beats closing a program.”

The timing is significant. Assuming the proposal passes, the AOS board, comprised of five directors from each school board, would need to meet immediately to set a central office budget so the districts could begin work on their local budgets. Not passing the AOS, either at the school board or referendum level, would risk the noncompliance penalty. However, given the new, incoming administration, it isn’t clear if that penalty will even exist in the coming months.

In other business, the board unanimously voted to extend Superintendent Quenten Clark’s tenure at MSAD 58 until mid-August, on a part-time basis. Clark will be working part-time in School Union 113, consisting of East Millinocket, Medway and Woodville, who will be his sole employer after Aug. 15.

The school board opted to have Clark work two out of five days in MSAD 58, at the associated salary, rather than hire a temporary superintendent from Maine School Management. Filling the position full-time, with the AOS proposal hanging overhead, would have been difficult.

Clark said he would be available via phone for MSAD 58-related issues on the days he was in Union 113. 

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