Superintendent Larry Malone has officially resigned from RSU 50. He will be taking the assistant superintendent position with Massabesic High School in Waterboro. The school is part of the RSU 57 school system, which serves six southwestern Maine towns: Alfred, Limerick, Lyman, Newfield, Shapleigh and Waterboro.
On Monday night, the RSU 50 board hired Mike Hammer, former Houlton High School superintendent, as the one-year interim. Hammer’s salary is being negotiated.
“I was not actively searching for a new position,” said Malone. “It happened very quickly.”
Malone has been with RSU 50 for three years, but has 32 years in education.
“A notice came about through an organization we are a part of, indicating that the superintendent of RSU 57, Dr. John Davis, was planning to retire a year from now and part of their transition plan to replace the him, was to create a one-year assistant superintendent position to work with him, “ Malone explained. “I started exploring it and talking with my family. I threw my name in. I interviewed and was offered the job all within a couple of weeks.”
Malone had only a few days to make his decision, so after visiting the area, he said it felt “very rural and an area we would like to settle in.”
Malone noted that RSU 57 is dealing with many of the same issues as RSU 50. They have several rural elementary schools in their communities and they have centralized their high schools.
“My wife and I thought we would be making this move to southern Maine a few years from now when we got closer to retiring,” Malone said. ‘However, this professional opportunity for me was difficult to pass on. I have grandchildren who live in New Hampshire and we will be able to see them more often.”
Malone struggled with the decision since there is unfinished business at RSU 50.
“I wish I could finish it,” he said. “But, it seems like the work will always be there.”
From Malone’s perspective, he believes RSU 50 has done a lot of good work.
“I want to thank you for the opportunity and thank you for the support you have given me,” Malone said addressing the school board. “I know you have tough decisions ahead. But, I know you will make good decisions based on what is best for the students. I think that is where the focus has to continue from the board.”
“From my perspective, moving forward, I wish I had been more direct with that, it is really about all kids and not just a few. We have an obligation to all of them,” he added. “I know you will make decisions that are best for the communities.”
“All of you I have gotten to know, I appreciate the time you have put into this, it is commendable,” Malone noted. “I know it has been rough waters and I don’t see them settling out tomorrow.”
Malone’s last official day is June 30.
“I wish you all the best,” he said to the board. “I would honestly take any or all of the administration with me anywhere. You are in good hands and they do a great job. They have the kids’ interest at heart, they work hard, they put time in and they support teachers.”
“I know you are in a good place,” he added. “I will miss The County.”
Massabesic school district has 3,300 students, a staff of 500 and 1,300 high school students.
“On behalf of the board, we would like to thank you for all you have done,” said RSU 50 chairman Greg Ryan. “There were a lot of long hours to get to this point. We wish you the best.”
Hammer came to Aroostook County on June 21, 2011, when he took over as superintendent of neighboring RSU 29. Prior to coming to that district, Hammer was principal at Hancock Grammar School from 2003-2011 and also served as superintendent for the Otis School Department for one year.
Hammer resigned as the RSU 29 superintendent in January. His name was on a list of individuals interested in serving as interim superintendents that was provided by the Maine School Management Association.
“I think I was a familiar name,” Hammer said. “I interviewed with a subcommittee of the board. I think that their are some interesting challenges and learning opportunities available in the district and the timing worked out well for both sides.”
