HODGDON, Maine – A familiar face will be returning to the district to take the helm of SAD 70.
At Monday night’s meeting, Scott Richardson of Houlton was unanimously chosen as the district’s new superintendent of schools. He will also serve as director of special education for the district.
Richardson has already logged a decade in SAD 70, working there from 1995 to 2005. During that time, his titles included director of special services, as well as, assistant principal at Hodgdon High School. For the past few years, Richardson has served as special education director for RSU 50 (Southern Aroostook and Katahdin school systems) since the two schools merged in 2011. He has also been assisting SAD 70 on a part-time basis with its special education needs, as the district had been unable to find a full-time person.
“We welcome his return,” said board Chairman Estela Lane during a break in Monday’s meeting. “We know he will be a wonderful asset to the district.”
Richardson said he is looking forward to the new role.
“I’m just so happy to be back,” he said. “I know a lot of the people here already and I’m just humbled that they’ve chosen me.”
Richardson’s first day on the job with the district is March 3. He succeeds Bob McDaniel, who resigned from the post at the end of the 2012-13 school year. Since July, 2013, the district has used the services of Clayton Belanger as an interim superintendent.
RSU 50 Superintendent Larry Malone said Richardson had made him aware that he was a candidate for the superintendent job in SAD 70.
“We are sad to see Scott leaving, but wish him well in his new endeavor,” Malone said. “We will miss him for sure and appreciate everything he has done for this district.”
Malone said he was uncertain what transition would take place in RSU 50 to replace Richardson, but did add that Richardson was working with the district to make the move seemless.
Also at the Jan. 13 meeting, SAD 70 board members received the results of the district’s most recent audit.
“Essentially, [what I’m presenting] is what we call a ‘clean audit’,” explained David Alward, a CPA with the Davis, Gates & Alward.
As part of the annual audit, the accountants examined district financial workings from July 2012 – June 2013, making sure all the numbers add up and reviewing “internal controls” or how the district handles its accounting.
Alward noted that SAD 70 was “in as good a shape as it can be” given the financial pressures that surround school funding these days.
“So, in layman’s terms, this is a thumbs-up?” asked Board Member Tom Horton.
“It is,” agreed Alward. “We didn’t find anything you need to change.”
The next regular meeting of the SAD 70 school board will be Monday, Feb. 10 at 7 p.m.
