CAMDEN – Ups and downs of the principal’s position at the Camden Rockport Middle School became stable Wednesday as the SAD 28 board appointed two permanent administrators to the school.

After an executive session, the board unanimously appointed Maria Libby to be the principal at the middle school and Andrew McCullough to remain as assistant principal. Libby had served in an interim status since April 2007, when she was elevated from assistant principal. McCullough was hired in May to fill her position. His new appointment takes him off probationary status, said Assistant Superintendent Michael Weatherwax.

The two administrators will work under their current contracts until July 1, according to the district’s human resources department. Dollar amounts have not been determined for the new contracts yet.

Before the vote, board members had considered whether to appoint internal candidates or to advertise the two positions. The board voted 5-1, with Geoff Parker opposing, to appoint the internal candidates, Weatherwax said.

The principal’s position had been uncertain after the board decided last March against renewing the contract of former Principal Brad Fox. Superintendent Patricia Hopkins, who placed Fox on administrative leave immediately after the board’s vote, said she could not discuss a personnel matter in public and therefore gave no reason for his departure.

Libby was then elevated from assistant principal for the remainder of Fox’s contract in 2007 and for the current school year. Hopkins at the time recommended the long-range appointment of Libby to give students some sense of continuity.

Some parents at the time said it was unfair to Libby to leave her in an uncertain position for so long, but Hopkins said she had discussed the matter with Libby before making her appointment public.

Libby was told at the time that she either could apply for her permanent job or revert to her former position as assistant principal.

In other business Wednesday, the board accepted resignations from teacher’s aide Linda Annis at Rockport Elementary School, effective June 30, and maintenance worker Richard Deane.

The board also agreed 6-0 to approve a half-year sabbatical for middle school science teacher Brad Laroche to work at Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor in the spring term of 2009.

The board would like to resume videotaping of school board meetings at the Bus Barn, and asked Parker to explore the possibility of an equipment donation to the district.

gchappell@bangordailynews.net

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