DIXFIELD — RSU 10 Superintendent Craig King announced a tentative plan Wednesday night to reduce administration of the T.W. Kelley Dirigo Middle School by having Dirigo High School administrators cover those duties.
The plan is expected to go into effect prior to the beginning of the 2014-15 school year. It’s the result of eliminating the full-time principal position at the middle school, effective June 30.
As proposed, high school Principal Michael Poulin and Assistant Principal Michael Hutchins would divide their time between the two schools. The buildings are less than a half-mile apart.
Hutchins would also continue to serve as the athletic director at the high school. The fate of the part-time position of athletic director at the middle school has yet to be determined.
In addition, several peer-support teacher leaders would serve in each school.
Middle school teacher leaders are Sarah Irish and Nancy Carr; high school teacher leaders are Karen Phair, Beth Edwards and Robin Marshall.
King said the total student enrollment in both schools is 481 sixth- through 12-graders. That number is less than recommended for two administrators under the state’s Essential Programs and Services. The EPS formula recommends 300 students per administrator.
The middle school has 160 students; the high school, about 320.
The teacher leaders will also provide support for professional development as related to curriculum, instruction and assessment.
The elimination of the middle school principal position is the result of the RSU 10 board’s efforts to offer a proposed budget that would be acceptable to voters and the district’s educational program.
More than 40 full- and part-time positions were eliminated under the proposed budget.
King previously said that he is reviewing all EPS recommendations. Other changes, such as possible building consolidations, likely will be discussed later in the year.
The proposed budget is $36.2 million, which is about $300,000 less than the current fiscal year.
RSU 10 includes the towns of Canton, Carthage, Dixfield, Peru, Buckfield, Hartford, Sumner, Byron, Mexico, Roxbury, Rumford and Hanover.
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