SAD 63 director resigns, citing new chairwoman

HOLDEN – Patricia Sirois, a Holden resident, resigned from the SAD 63 board of directors Monday saying she had “no confidence” in the newly elected chairwoman.

Sirois, who was appointed to the board in July 2005, had served as chairwoman since June 2006. She resigned after Linda Goodrich was elected chairwoman at Monday evening’s board meeting. After resigning, Sirois quietly got her jacket and left the meeting.

While Sirois was not specific about why she had no confidence in Goodrich, members of the board have been at odds with one another since October when actions during a board meeting led to Superintendent Louise Regan threatening to sue five of the eight board members.

According to certified letters of intent to sue sent out by Regan’s attorney on Nov. 7, the superintendent said she was “falsely and maliciously accused of lying and attempting to engage in a cover-up by” five board members, including Linda Goodrich.

On Nov. 12, Regan filed a complaint against the school district with the Maine Human Rights Commission claiming she was discriminated against for being a whistle-blower.

Both legal claims are based on actions that took place in October involving the recorded minutes of previous meetings, which Regan reported to police had been removed improperly from SAD 63’s central office.

The board did not accept Sirois’ resignation Monday, but instead went on with the meeting agenda by appointing Karen Clark as vice chairwoman. Superintendent Regan said after the meeting that Sirois’ resignation would be placed on the board’s January agenda.

Sirois has about a year and a half left on her three-year term.

The decision about who would fill Sirois’ post lies with the Holden Town Council, Councilor Robert Harvey informed the board.

During Monday’s meeting Clifton resident Eric Johns said he was sorry that Sirois felt the need to resign, adding that being a public leader is “an extremely difficult job.”

“There are always going to be people who are in favor of what you’re doing and people who are opposed to what you’re doing, and that’s just the nature of the business,” he said.

Johns added that he was disappointed in the board’s actions in October and the subsequent legal actions of the superintendent.

On Monday, the board members met in executive session to discuss the pending legal issues with their attorney.