New head of Alexander school already known in the region

ALEXANDER – The elementary school’s new teaching principal has a familiar face.

The school committee has hired former Union 106 Superintendent Peter Harvey, and he began his new duties this week.

Harvey replaces Lynn Silk, who resigned last month to accept a position in Milford.

Harvey, who is new to the job, is not new to Washington County. Two years ago, he resigned under fire as superintendent of Union 106, which comprises Calais, Alexander, Baring, Crawford and Robbinston.

At the time, the Calais School Committee voted overwhelmingly to accept Harvey’s resignation, but two Robbinston school committee members and one Alexander school committee member voted against the motion. Because the union has a weighted vote, the Calais vote carried the motion.

Although Harvey had a ticklish relationship with some members of the Calais School Committee, many people in Alexander liked him. So when the teaching-principalship opened up at the school, he applied and was hired.

Harvey will work for Union 106 Superintendent May Bouchard. Bouchard previously had Harvey’s job in Alexander. She took over the superintendent’s duties after Harvey left.

Alexander School Committee Vice Chairman Michele Dupuis-Clarke had nothing but praise for the new principal. “He appears to be a strong leader,” she said. “He has a strong, optimistic view of taking us from where we are to where we want to be … and I see him effecting very positive changes in our little school.”

Harvey was selected from a field of 23 applicants who applied not only for the teaching principal’s position, but also for other vacant teaching positions at the school.

The school committee, working with Harvey, plans to hire several teachers. In the past few weeks, four of the school’s six teachers, citing a variety of professional reasons, have resigned.

“He is a very nice man, and he comes with such a strong familiarity of our town, our school and our finances,” Dupuis-Clarke said.

School committee member John Allen agreed. “He did the job that was necessary when he was here, and he has a very, very good background and a lot of experience that I think we will be able to put to good use,” he said “He will help grow programs at the school.”

Harvey, who most recently was in Lyndonville, Vt., said he was pleased to be back in Washington County. Although he has been gone for more than two years, he kept his home in Crawford.