OLD ORCHARD BEACH –  After many years with a combined high school principal/superintendent position, Regional School Unit 23 will soon have a standalone Superintendent position.

RSU 23 oversees schools in Old Orchard Beach.

John Suttie currently serves as the RSU 23 superintendent as well as the principal of Old Orchard Beach High School, and has served in the dual role for seven years.

Beginning July, the role of Superintendent and the role of Old Orchard Beach High School principal will no longer be combined, and will be two separate positions. Suttie will take on the position of Superintendent, and current Old Orchard Beach High School Assistant Principal and Assistant Superintendent Eric Hanson will take on the role of solely the Assistant Superintendent. Dawd’s position will not be filled, and Suttie and Hanson will, in their new positions, take on the responsibilities currently assumed by the director of instruction, said Suttie in a phone interview. The district will advertise for a new high school principal position, and the current role of assistant high school principal will be eliminated.

The school board voted unanimously on the administration configuration after an executive session Wednesday night, said Suttie. The board wanted to clarify the role of Superintendent and separate it from the role of high school principal so the superintendent can be equally involved in all school buildings, said Suttie.

The shifting of positions is revenue neutral, said Suttie.

“In the board’s eyes it’s a win/win for everybody,” he said.

School Board Chairman David Boudreau confirmed the new administration structure was approved by the board with a 5-0 vote, but deferred any further questions to Suttie.

Publisher Liz Gotthelf can be reached at newsdesk@sacobaynews.com.