Superintendent agrees to another year in Madawaska, issues public apology to teachers

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Jenna Beaulieu
8 January 2013

MADAWASKA – A special town meeting on Jan. 7 started with an announcement from the Superintendent that may alleviate some stress for members of the school committee. On Monday evening, Superintendent Wood clarified that, even though she declined a two-year contract with the school department, she had not resigned her position.

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Superintendent Terry Wood addresses the crowd at the Jan. 7 town meeting. - Jenna Beaulieu image

According to Wood, she will commit to staying another year.

“My intention is to help my school committee and the school department,” said Wood. “I don't think it's a good time to walk away. I don't think that's what Madawaska needs right now.”

Due to an intense budget season that resulted in numerous cuts and salary reductions, Wood declined a raise to $103,000 and is maintaining her current salary of $90,000.

School committee chair Yves Dube and other committee members have expressed at numerous committee meetings that they wish for Wood to stay for many reasons. The school department has hired ten superintendents in the last six years.

Wood also issued a public apology to local teachers for a statement she made at the Nov. 13 special town meeting. At that meeting, she made a comment that teachers were overpaid, according to Wood.

“I meant that they were highly paid,” said Wood at the Jan. 7 meeting. “I apologize to any teachers I may have offended. Since I made the statement publicly, I thought it best to apologize publicly as well.”

Madawaska residents voted to accept the school department's proposed budget on Jan. 7 and the superintendent and school committee are already taking a look at the 2013-2014 budget.

 

Comments

The Super did some soul searching.

If the school committee is nice to her she may stay for two years. I would feel as guilty walking out during these difficult times for Madawaska. An additional year gives the town ample time to search for a replacement. Check out the story in the Bangor Daily about closing schools in Millinocket, and tax abatement requests by the paper mill. The grand old days of making paper are disappearing fast.
Submitted by Ron on 8 January 2013 - 9:33pm.

Superintendent

I believe cutting the Superintendent to half time would be the right thing to do at this time. Most schools are cutting supers to half time and running just as effeciently. A great article in the Bangor News this week gave all kinds of examples of how well this is working out and saving lots of money for their towns and schools. Our Superintendents have been half time for most of the last five or six years and the school servived all right and everything ran smoothly. Plus this superintendent sounded so confused and confusing at last night's meeting no wonder everything is such a mess. Something that could have been settled months ago took her all this time to figure out. I don't have much confidence in her handling of the millions of dallors she has in her responsibilty. In the mean time, she fired teachers while she didn't have to, scared kids into thinking their education was in jepordy, and poor little elementary school kids crying because she is threatening to close thier school. Sounds to me like half time would be all we need at this point. How many of you would vote for HALF TIME SUPERINTENDENT
Submitted by madtownacadian on 8 January 2013 - 10:16pm.

When I first started reading

When I first started reading this comment, I thought maybe a good point was going to be made about the Superintendent being cut to half time....but then I read on! Maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea....but not for the reasons listed. I think Terry Wood is doing a SUPER job and especially after Monday night, I have all the confidence and respect in the world that she will put our tax dollars where they belong and not waste them. FYI , It didn't take HER months to figure out the budget problems....she had obstacles in her way. If not for those obstacles, the budget would have been settled way earlier. SHE didn't fire teachers, that was not the first choice of the board...they had 2 other options...this was the 3rd and final. Things could have been different if the 2nd option would have gone through. SHE did not scare kids into thinking that their education was in jeopardy.... the public, parents and teachers did that. So yeah, although I think a half-time Superintendent would be an option...not for these reasons listed....
Submitted by tiredofbs on 10 January 2013 - 8:00am.

Super!!!

You have a great talent overseeing the Madawaska schools. She is very intelligent, caring individual. She is the diamond on the Crown of Maine. Don't let her get away. I would challenge any citizen in town to serve as select person or school board. Would any of you survive? Think abut it! Yes, I am a college graduate and yes I have worked at the mill and did a stint as a swiper. Does that make me any better or worse? Treating everyone with respect and dignity should be paramount in our little community. Just like the commercial, I think someone needs "A Timeout".
Submitted by Concerned on 8 January 2013 - 10:31pm.

Dimond

Get real," A DIMOND ON THE CROWN OF MAINE" !! ha ha ha !!!
Submitted by madtownacadian on 9 January 2013 - 2:19pm.