Marc Gousse, the Westbrook superintendent of schools since 2011, has officially signed a contract to lead the Mount Desert Island Regional School System in Bar Harbor.

Gousse confirmed this week that he will leave Westbrook, signing a five-year contract with the MDI system, also known as Alternative Organizational Structure 91. He has worked for the Westbrook School Department for the past 15 years.

The AOS-91 board held a special meeting Thursday, June 2, to appoint Gousse. He had been named the finalist for the position during previous meetings, and was invited to tour the district to meet staff and students.

The day before the meeting, AOS-91 board chairman Charles Wray confirmed that a formal offer had been made to Gousse.

A graduate of Maine Maritime Academy, Gousse said he has strong connections with Down East Maine, where he still serves on the Maine Maritime Academy board of directors in Castine.

As of April 2016, the district had 1,515 students in nine schools. Howard Colter, the former longtime AOS-91 superintendent left the district last year, and recently took an interim position in Cape Elizabeth.

Gousse, 55, said his official last day at Westbrook is June 30, but will remain involved during a transitional period.

The Westbrook School Committee is holding an executive session following its meeting Wednesday, June 8, after the American Journal’s deadline, regarding a personnel issue.

School Committee Chairman Jim Violette told the American Journal last week that the committee will be discussing all of its options, including hiring or appointing an interim, or rolling out an official search for a new superintendent immediately.

Westbrook High School Principal Jon Ross also announced his departure last week, effective June 30. He has served as principal since 2012. Ross will take a job as the superintendent and principal in Acton, leading the district’s lone school that serves grades pre-K through 8.

Ross said Wednesday that he told staff and the School Committee on Friday, June 3, and told students Monday.

“I am pretty tight with the staff and students. It’s bittersweet,” he said.

Marc Gousse’s last official day as Westbrook’s school superintendent is June 30.