Rick Amero, who served as an educator and principal at Monmouth Academy for more than three decades, has been named the interim superintendent of Regional School Unit 2. He is expected to be the Hallowell-based district’s top administrator until June 30, 2023. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal file

HALLOWELL — Rick Amero will be “returning home” to Regional School Unit 2 as the interim superintendent later this month.

The RSU 2 board unanimously approved Amero during an emergency meeting Thursday to take Matt Gilbert’s place until a permanent superintendent is hired.

The search for an interim superintendent began at the end of August and took about three weeks, with help from staff and community members.

A longtime Monmouth Academy educator and principal, Amero’s departure from the school district last year surprised many because of the passion he had for high school. He left his position in September 2021 to become superintendent of Waldo County Technical Center in Belfast in October 2021.

“While he has served as the Director/Superintendent of the Waldo County Technical Center for the past year, Mr. Amero served our district as teacher, coach, athletic director, and principal for over 30 years,” RSU 2 board Chair Donna Seppy wrote in an email to the district’s faculty. “He is a trusted and compassionate leader and a champion of students, committed to building collaborative community relationships and life-changing opportunities for all learners. It is in these roots, where his strengths lie. Please join us in welcoming Rick Amero back home.”

Amero is to earn $125,000 for the yearlong position, which he is expected to hold until June 30, 2023. He starts full time Oct. 17.

The RSU 2 board decided to hire an interim superintendent for the rest of the school year in the hope that having more time to search for a permanent superintendent would yield better results than the district had in the past.

Gilbert’s departure marked the fifth superintendent to leave RSU 2 in three years, and the district has paid thousands of dollars in payouts for several of those outgoing administrators, most recently Tonya Arnold.

Gilbert will no longer be paid after his last day with the district, set for Sept. 30. He is leaving to become superintendent of Rumford-based Regional School Unit 10, where he worked before joining RSU 2.

“Rick returning is fantastic news for the district,” Gilbert said.

Hallowell-based RSU 2 includes Dresden, Farmingdale, Hallowell, Monmouth and Richmond. Richmond voters are expected to decide in November — after almost two years of consideration — whether to withdraw from the district.