SAD 31 chief, board chairwoman resign

HOWLAND – Without any direct explanation, SAD 31 Superintendent of Schools William Ziemer and board of directors Chairwoman Beth Turner abruptly resigned their positions Wednesday night.

Ziemer’s resignation followed two executive sessions lasting just over two hours. The first executive session ended with board members coming back into session and voting to pay the remainder of a paving contractor’s bill, $3,000, and referred the matter back to the board’s facilities committee for fact-finding.

Ziemer would not comment on his resignation. New board Chairman John M. Neel, who attended both executive sessions, said he didn’t believe the contractor’s bill payment and Ziemer’s resignation were connected.

Turner announced her resignation later, during her regular report to the board. She read a letter, dated Tuesday, that chastised some community members for the divisiveness that characterized much of her last year as chairwoman.

She said that she worked with many intelligent and dedicated people “to provide students with the best educational opportunities possible.”

However, “as the Chairman, I have learned well that while everyone speaks of working together toward this goal, the actions of some clearly suggest other agendas,” Turner read. “My wish for the board of directors is that one day, tolerance and diversity of idea will be welcomed back in their proceedings.”

Turner’s resignation is effective immediately; Ziemer’s effective Friday. Neel said details of Ziemer’s resignation agreement will be available soon.

Judi Thompson, a member of the Penobscot Valley Save Our School organization, called Ziemer’s resignation “a move in the right direction.

“I don’t know if that’s the right thing to say or not,” Thompson said. “There were trust issues and a lack of leadership” between Ziemer and the board and the community.

Turner’s resignation took Thompson by surprise, she said. She took Turner’s comments to be implicit criticisms of PVSOS.

Turner was one of Ziemer’s biggest supporters. PVSOS, which claims its goal is to maintain Penobscot Valley High School as a viable educational institution based in Howland, had long been a vociferous critic of Ziemer and some directors, with members saying they believed he wanted to close PVHS.

Ziemer always denied that and is one of the leading designers of plans to build a new school for seventh-12th-graders on the footprint of PVHS.

The $8.9 million school, which is on track for state education approval and an opening in September 2007, was shaping up to be a triumph for Ziemer, but other problems beset his administration.

He was suspended with pay from Oct. 4 to Dec. 29 last year after 700 residents signed a petition asking the Maine Department of Education to determine his fitness.

State investigators said they lacked grounds upon which to revoke Ziemer’s superintendent’s certificate, but found that political infighting, lack of leadership and communications breakdowns with the board and the school system were enough to threaten SAD 31’s state approval and place it on probation.

The school system is still reeling from the economic impact of the town of Lowell’s decision to withdraw about 34 students next year, and state officials were investigating why an industrial arts shop at PVHS they ordered closed in late September continued to be used by about 34 students from early November to May 2.

State Education Commissioner Susan Gendron did not immediately return messages seeking comment on the status of the investigation.