Saco hires Assistant Superintendent

SACO — Margaret “Meg” Parkhurst has been hired as the Saco School Department’s new Assistant Superintendent.

Parkhurst’s appointment was approved unanimously by the School Board on Wednesday, with School Board Member Arthur Tardif absent. She was one of 11 potential candidates, and was unanimously selected as the finalist by the interview committee, said Interim Superintendent of Schools Jeremy Ray in a memo to the School Board.

Parkhurst has experience in school administration. She is currently the assistant superintendent in Regional School Unit 21, and prior to that position served as a middle school assistant principal. She was also a classroom teacher for fifteen years, and has experience as an elementary instructional strategist. 

Parkhurst said in a written statement that she brings a passion for facilitating deep learning experiences for students as well as guiding teachers toward continuous improvement.

“I am excited to hit the ground running to ensure a responsive and rigorous full time educational experience for students and staff,” she said. “Saco is in a unique position to capitalize on current strengths while also shaping the vision for a preferred future.”

Ray said that Parkhurst had his full support for the role of Assistant Superintendent.  

This is a new position to the Saco School Department, and will replace the curriculum coordinator, which is being eliminated in part of a reorganization plan.

The salary for the Assistant Superintendent is $115,000 with a benefit package of $25,000, according to school board documents from July's meeting.

The reorganization plan is one of three factors that combined, will save the school department about $74,300, according to school board documents,

The school department is forecasted to see a savings of about $19,400 from the reorganization. The hiring of an interim superintendent for this year is saving the school department about $22,200, and the sharing of the food service director with Biddeford and Dayton is saving the school department $32,700.

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