Staff Writer

The first meeting of the Regional School Unit 21 (Arundel, Kennebunk and Kennebunkport) Board of Directors took place Feb. 5 to discuss the board’s responsibilities before the July 1 consolidation date. 

Deputy Executive Director of Maine School Management Association Sally MacArthur provided the board with steps toward hiring a superintendent and the board is currently developing a subcommittee for the hiring process. Residents of all three towns will be given the chance to share input about a new superintendent through a survey being developed by the board.

“In order to get a candidate with International Baccalaureate certification who has had experience with consolidated school districts, we’ll have to [search] national,” Maureen King, interim chairman for the board, said, as neither School Administrative District 71 Superintendent Patrick Manuel nor Arundel Superintendent Alton “Bump” Hadley are vying for the position. 

The board plans to hire a superintendent by June with Manuel serving the consolidated district until a permanent replacement is found. The board also decided to temporarily designate the current MSAD 71 business office as the central office for RSU 21. 

While the board faces a long list of things to do, King said they are “ahead of the game” in comparison with other districts that are consolidating. To help reduce the number of times the entire board needs to meet, King asked members to sign up for various committees to address finance, policy, human resources and facilities and report back to the full board. 

MSAD 71 Business Administrator Jim Barnes compiled a list of items the board must address during the next five months and estimated $75,000 total start up cost for the new district. The most costly items besides hiring a superintendent include merging the two district’s business operations and technology. 

“We’re already feeling strain on time and finances,” Barnes said. “We’re going to need patience and understanding.”

Barnes said the district is exploring grants that could help offset some of the start up costs. 

The RSU 21 Board of Directors had a second meeting in Arundel Wednesday night after The Post deadline, and additional meetings will be scheduled in coordination with board meetings in Arundel, Kennebunk or Kennebunkport. For up to date information on the consolidation, visit www.rsu21.net.