March 28, 2024
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SAD 28 extends chief’s contract Board unanimous on 3-year package

CAMDEN – The Five Town CSD has voted to extend Superintendent Patricia Hopkins’ contract by three years after an evaluation last week.

Hopkins served as assistant superintendent for the CSD and SAD 28 and was appointed to the superintendent post last spring when Frank Hackett announced he was leaving the position.

SAD 28 contracts with the CSD for superintendent services, so Hopkins works for that district as well.

The CSD provides education at Camden Hills Regional High School in Rockport for students from Camden, Rockport, Hope, Appleton and Lincolnville.

SAD 28 provides education for pupils in kindergarten through eighth grade from Camden and Rockport.

Board member Tori Manzi said Friday the evaluation on Hopkins’ performance “was very, very favorable, especially for a first-time superintendent.”

“We were very pleased,” Manzi said.

The district has endured two student suicides this fall, and Manzi said the board appreciated Hopkins’ leadership through the crises.

“She really knows the district,” which made for a better response to the tragedies, the board member said.

Hopkins was being paid $80,000 a year. Under the new contract, she was given a 2.6 percent cost-of-living increase, which brings the annual salary to $82,080.

Manzi said Hopkins can negotiate with the board for salary increases in the second and third years of the contract.

The board also capped the superintendent’s benefits package at 14 percent of salary. That means if the cost of health insurance goes up, Hopkins will have to pay the increase, Manzi said.

The board has taken this approach with all administrator contracts, she said.

The evaluation, which was held in closed session on Dec. 19, lasted 45 minutes. The board voted unanimously to extend the contract.


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