Because the school board doesn’t meet next until Sept. 9, Mike Lafortune, the remaining interim superintendent in Regional School Unit 5, likely will hire replacements for two top administrators who announced their resignations last month.

Tom Ambrose, principal at Morse Street School for five years, is leaving to become assistant superintendent at RSU 52 of Turner, home to Leavitt High School. Barbara Gunn, meanwhile, departs RSU 5 following one year as director of instructional support. Gunn will take a similar position, director of students services, in the Brunswick School Department.

Nelson Larkins of Freeport, school board chairman, said that the two search committees will make their recommendations to Lafortune who, with the approval of incoming Superintendent Ed McDonough, will make the hires. RSU 5 begins classes for the 2015-2016 school year on Aug. 31.

“We’ve advertised the positions and we’re putting together our teams,” Lafortune said last week. “These things happen every year. I’m pretty confident that we’ll move right forward on this.”

McDonough will assume his new position on Sept. 1. He has been superintendent of the Portsmouth School Department in New Hampshire for the past six years.

Ambrose, 41, of Saco, said he is taking the next step as a school administrator.

“I got a chance to be the assistant superintendent,” he said. “But it’s been a very bittersweet decision to leave Morse Street School.”

Ambrose said he is proud of the progress made during his tenure at Morse Street School, both on the academic and social side of the education equation. Morse Street School, located in the center of Freeport village, is kindergarten through Grade 2.

“When I was hired,” he said, “about 25 percent of the kids were not making the grade in reading. This spring, in K through 1, 89 percent were proficient in reading, with a large percentage of kids just one level below. In second grade, 87 percent made grade level.

“We raised the expectations one full level from when I was hired. I just worked hard on supporting the teachers. I expected a lot of them, and from myself. We did a lot of professional development, and we just got a lot of enthusiasm going in the school community.”

Ambrose also will leave his mark on Morse Street School for posterity. With an assist from music teacher Rachel Domin, he wrote “The Morse Street School Song.”

“We have more music and arts, and additions to performing arts programs,” Ambrose said. “It’s about working for the whole kid.”

Gunn, who lives in Falmouth, said that the majority of her work as director of instructional support in RSU 5 schools revolved around special education students. But the director of that position also works with all students who need accommodations, Gunn said.

She will continue to work with students who need help in Brunswick, but the director of student services there also writes grants and fills in for the assistant superintendent as needed. Gunn also will work with steering committees in Brunswick.

Gunn leaves feeling good regarding her short experience with RSU 5.

“They have very, very dedicated and good people in Freeport,” she said.