FARMINGTON — Mt. Blue Regional School District board members will begin reviewing applications for a new superintendent next week.

The board had reopened the search for applications Jan. 5 in hopes of widening the initially small pool of applicants.

Leanne Condon, assistant superintendent, said the board received four more applications before the new deadline ended Tuesday.

“We’re glad that we did reopen,” she said.

The board had received five applications for the position before the original Dec. 3 deadline.

Interviews will begin in mid-February after the school board’s administrator evaluation subcommittee finishes reviewing the applications, Condon said.

Students, faculty and staff were surveyed in October and November for input on the search for a superintendent candidate after Michael Cormier announced that he was retiring after 20 years.

Staff and faculty members in the survey said they are looking for a new superintendent with leadership, communication, school finance budgeting and personnel management skills. Several board members also said they were looking for someone familiar with the district.

Students who took the survey listed school improvement, school-community involvement, curriculum and communication as their four highest concerns.

The Maine School Management Association is assisting the school board in its search for a superintendent.

The school district communities are Chesterville, Farmington, Industry, New Sharon, New Vineyard, Starks, Temple, Vienna, Weld and Wilton.

Kaitlin Schroeder– 861-9252
kschroeder@mainetoday.com