Second board vote results in new chair

SALEM – The MSAD 58 school board has a new director today, after an earlier vote was challenged and declared invalid.

Director Judy Dill, of Kingfield, will serve as the board’s chair. Dill, the former vice chair, was elected by a vote of six to three over Director Alan Morse, of Phillips. Morse had been elected chair at the last meeting, but that vote was vacated after the school district’s attorney offered the opinion that the secret vote was against law and policy.

On July 15, the board met to choose new officers for the ensuing year. Nominated for election to the position of chair was Director Gerald “Mike” Pond Jr., of Strong, the former chair, and Morse, who asked for votes to be submitted in the form of a secret ballot. Following some debate about whether secret ballots were allowable, the directors voted and Morse was selected, with five votes cast in his favor and four in favor of Pond. Dill was elected to the position of vice chair, which she has held for several years.

Pond then challenged the results, saying that the vote had been invalid. The Board Organizational Meeting policy states that the election shall be by ballot, but that the votes must be signed and made available for inspection if requested.

Superintendent Quenten Clark requested a legal opinion. Bruce Smith, of Drummond Woodsum, said that he believed that “officer elections, like any other action, must be done in public.” Furthermore, Clark said, the board was required to have openly elected officials in order for the district to borrow money through bonds, a requirement of their legal consultants.

The second election resulted in little discussion. Pond nominated Dill, whom he said could unite the board so it would be “nine together, rather than five and four.” Director Sue Fotter, of Eustis, nominated Morse. Director Mary Jane Thorndike, of Phillips, nominated Pond, who then declined to serve.

Dill received six votes, with Morse receiving the other three. Director Ann Schwink, of Strong, was elected to vice chair, after Morse declined to serve.

The new board has a series of challenges to overcome in the next few months, including a search for a new superintendent, possible collaboration with MSAD 74 in an Alternate Organization Structure, developing a plan for the future of five schools and how the district educates its students and dealing with potentially significant reductions in state subsidy next year.