FARMINGTON — RSU 9 directors voted Tuesday to appoint Darlene Paine of Wilton as the new principal of Cape Cod Hill School in New Sharon.
Paine has been principal of Academy Hill School and Cushing School in Wilton for eight years. Prior to that, Paine was principal of Searsport Elementary School.
“It will be sad to leave the people of Wilton, but I am excited about a new adventure at a new school,” Paine told the school board.
Paine will replace Cheryl Pike, who retires at the end of the school year as the principal of the New Sharon school. Pike has been with the school district for 35 years.
In other business, the board voted to appoint Jacob Williams, an incoming junior, to serve as a student representative on the school board. He will join Emily Rice, another student representative who is an incoming senior.
“He interviewed incredibly well. He is very articulate,” Superintendent Mike Cormier said of Williams.
The board also voted to do line-item budget transfers totaling $115,000 into special services, which will exceed its budget due to the cost of out of district placements, temporary educational technicians needed, and increased use of psychological contract services, Cormier said.
The money will come from instruction, $10,000; career and technical education, $40,000; and student transportation, $65,000.
Much of the money left over in the latter two accounts was due to money saved on fuel and other expenses, he said.
Cormier told the school board that he has enjoyed his 20 years with the school district. He thanked the school board for putting up with him. It was Cormier’s last school board meeting prior to retirement.
“I’m truly ready for transition. I’m looking forward to a change,” he said.
New Superintendent Thomas Ward of Temple will begin his duties in July.
“My replacement is very committed to the school district,” Cormier said.
Ward comes to the Farmington area district from RSU 10, where he served as superintendent of a 12-town district that includes Rumford, Mexico, Dixfield and Buckfield.
dperry@sunjournal.com
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