Bangor educator accepts principal post in Guilford Chasse gets contract at Piscataquis Community High

GUILFORD – A Bangor educator has accepted the position of principal at Piscataquis Community High School.

Jim Chasse of Veazie, headmaster of Bangor Christian Schools, will begin his new job on July 1 at a salary of $68,000. Directors voted unanimously on Tuesday to hire Chasse and to provide him with a two-year contract.

“We’re very pleased he’s coming to work for us,” SAD 4 Superintendent Paul Stearns said Wednesday. “He has excellent technology integration skills, excellent people skills and has a very good understanding of pedagogy in the classroom.”

Stearns said the board had 11 applicants for the position and, of those, four were interviewed.

Chasse has served in the Bangor Christian Schools system for two years and before that worked as curriculum coordinator and principal in SAD 23 and SAD 38 in the Etna, Dixmont and Carmel and Levant communities, according to Stearns.

In addition to Chasse’s appointment, directors on Tuesday realigned two positions to help fulfill budget obligations.

Starting next fall, Joseph Luchini, who has been the district’s full-time career preparatory teacher, will split his time between career preparation and physical education. Shelly Connolly, a kindergarten teacher, will become an elementary special education teacher.

The need for these changes and an explanation about the proposed $6,804,262 education spending plan that carries a local assessment of $2,537,491 will be given at a public informational meeting at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 24, and again at 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 13, at Piscataquis Community Middle School. The district budget meeting will be held at 7 p.m. June 13 in the same location.