OLD ORCHARD BEACH — The Old Orchard Beach High School assistant principal is now also the Regional School Unit 23 assistant superintendent, a title change for a combined role the superintendent says better reflects the duties of the position.

RSU 23, covering the town of Old Orchard Beach, had 710 students enrolled in the 2018-2019 school year, according to data from the Maine Department of Education.

For many years, the Old Orchard Beach school system had a full-time superintendent, until three years ago, when then Old Orchard Beach High School Principal John Suttie also took on the position of superintendent, and has since served both roles in a combined position.

The high school also has an assistant principal, Eric Hanson, who will now also serve as an assistant superintendent in a combined position, after a 3-1 School Board vote Thursday night, with member Michelle Violette opposed and Carol Marcotte absent.

“The job description that we’re going to be working with is already being performed,” said School Board member Peter Flaherty. “All the duties that Mr. Hanson is doing now, fit this new job description.”

“It’s not a new position, it’s a new name, we’re changing the title,” said School Board Chairman David Boudreau.

Suttie reiterated that it was not a new position. He said it was an acknowledgment of what Hanson was already doing, and Hanson would not be getting a pay raise with the new title. Suttie said Hanson had a skill set and abilities that can be utilized in other parts of the school district rather than having him “put in a box” as solely the high school assistant principal.

“It’s an accurate reflection of how our district has been functioning over the past three years,” said Suttie.

Suttie said the new job description would give a clear plan for Hanson to fill in for Suttie, should Suttie need to take a leave of absence for a medical issue, and it would also allow Hanson to provide assistance at the RSU’s other two schools if need be.

Her vote against the new title did not reflect the abilities of Hanson or Suttie to perform their expected job duties, Violette said, but she had an issue with the process. She thought that since the new job title had a different list of responsibilities it should be considered a new position.

Violette was also concerned that there would be a lack checks and balances if both Hanson and Suttie were considered on the district-wide level.

The checks and balances that were in place would remain, Suttie said.

“Nothing’s changing,” he said.

Staff in the audience asked who would supervise the two positions, and Suttie said the School Board would continue to oversee his position and he would continue to supervise Hanson.

Suttie makes a combined annual salary of $114,300 and Harmon’s annual salary is $97,800, according to RSU documents.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be reached at 780-9015 or by email at egotthelf@journaltribune.com.

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