At its June 22 meeting, MSAD51 School Board says farewell to departing members, elects new chair and vice-chair. Following tense debate, an unexpected partnership will lead the District.
Three board members did not seek reelection and will be replaced in July. Peter Bingham (Cumberland) has been a long-time school board and municipal volunteer; Jennifer Stewart (Cumberland) has served two terms and was Communication Chair; Kevin Desmond (North Yarmouth) is also completing his second term and is the departing vice-chair.
The current chair, Tyler McGinley, announced her resignation. She has served two terms as Chair. Her departure will leave a 1-year vacancy for a Cumberland seat.
First-term members Leanne Candura (North Yarmouth), Christina Mitchell (Cumberland), and Kim Vine (Cumberland) will join the Board in July.
The final act of the school year for the sitting School Board was electing a new chair.
MSAD51 policy outlining the chair selection process was updated in 2017 under the guidance of then Policy Committee Chair, Kate Perrin, to shift control of the School Board appointment to the current Board. The outgoing Chair is to tap a current Board member to gather nominations from the Board and present candidate(s) to the Chair by June 1.
Prior to the chair selection vote in 2021, Perrin explained the purpose of the policy change. “When I first came on the board in 2015, we typically voted on the chair in August or September, as a new board was forming. And a lot of us felt that with a new board, new board members specifically without understanding the role without understanding the history of the board as well as some of like the historical information, as well as the carryover of projects from year to year, and with the rollout of a strategic plan, that we knew members didn't have enough information to vote accurately or wisely on the chair position.”
During the MSDA51 June 6 meeting, Bingham summarized his conversations with fellow board members and had only one name to offer as a candidate, Jason Record. Options for vice-chair were not clear, as one was contingent on selecting a specific candidate for chair.
For the June 22 meeting, the process deviated from recent practices. McGinley requested nominations directly from the Board rather than take Bingham’s recommendation.
McGinley explained, “What I'd like to do is follow a process that I shared with the board earlier today, and I'll share it with the public as well, is that I will first ask for nominations for chair. I will then ask those nominated if they are willing to serve within those chair positions, and then I will ask for a motion. I will close the nominations, and then I will ask for a motion for the chairman. If we do not reach the majority this evening on either, on a chair position, I will ask for a motion to table the vote to the next meeting, which is July.”
First-year member and Negotiations Committee member, Jason Record, was nominated by Peter Bingham. Second-term member and current Policy Committee Chair, Ann Maksymowicz (Cumberland) was nominated by Mike Williams.
Members stated their confusion about the last-minute procedural changes.
Stewart expressed her discomfort. “This feels very odd to sit up here. And all of a sudden now we're in a debate. I don't know, this is not really the process that we've done in the past. So it did take me by surprise when I got the heads up when I arrived on the stage tonight.”
”Yeah. So I hate this. I hate everything about all this right now,” said Tom McGinness (North Yarmouth).
Bingham, Desmond, and Stewart described Record as someone they would never have expected to support as chair when he joined the Board in 2021, but they believe he has demonstrated he has the skills needed to lead.
Having also worked with Record on the Planning Board, Bingham said, “I have had occasion to see Jason operate at that position. He runs a very efficient meeting, is sensitive to public comment, and very organized working with our administration.”
Desmond shared his thoughts about Record joining the Board, “I dusted up a little bit with Jason early. And, and I gotta tell you, he responded like a professional. And when it came time to understand issues that he disagreed with, he put in the time. And it wasn't that I always ended up in a place with Jason, where I could agree with him. And in fact, there's a, there's a number of things that I didn't. But as I look at the challenges that this board is going to have in the coming years, I think that getting back to what the intent of a school board is, it is to focus on teaching, and learning, and making policy to guide all of those.”
He continued, “In this role, I think that I'm more comfortable right now, with the way that I've seen Jason think around corners. And I think that if he were chair of this board, I think that he would grow well into that role. And I think that he can support the direction that you need to go in the next finite period of time.”
Stewart said, “A year ago, I would be shocked if I would have said that I would support Jason to chair. You know, there was a really hard vote that was put to the town last year, you know, and my name was on there to remove me from my role. But, you know, as we've worked together in this past year, Jason comes to the meetings very prepared and asked the right questions, and, and I feel like the, the chair role needs someone that's going to be able to have the time and dedication and really look at the details to make sure the wording the agenda is put together correctly and the meetings are run efficiently and to the point.”
Williams and McGinley endorsed Maksymowicz, highlighting qualities they feel would make her an effective chair.
Of Maksymowicz, Williams said, “The two years I've been on the board, Ann has been, honestly, you've been, you were a bit of a lightning rod for a bit. And I think that has obscured people from seeing that you're actually quite thoughtful, approachable, smart, strong, an interesting person who's willing to engage, many viewpoints, put the work in. And so, you had mentioned that you're interested in being chair, I thought, absolutely, we should put your name forward.”
McGinley has worked with Maksymowicz on equity. She said Maksymowicz is “a wonderful listener. And I think that that is one of the best things that you can be as chair, listening with an open ear, not listening for when it's your time to talk. But listening, because you're actually listening to what people are saying is something that I think that you would bring in a wonderful way to this, to this position.”
McGinley believes Record needed more time and experience before being considered for the chair. Both Williams and McGinness challenged Record on statements from an email to the Board discussing the chair position.
Record acknowledged, “I'm more direct than many people,” and that is perceived as assertiveness. He further clarified, “My words in my email were that I'm not supportive of Ann in the vice-chair role. My words were not that I would not work with her. That's up to the board and are two different things.
Maksymowicz addressed questions about her health and whether she was able to fulfill the role. “I know when I had talked to you that some of you had obviously expressed concern for my health. And then this is for the public viewing because I have missed various meetings because I am living with a chronic health condition. And I wouldn't have considered myself if I didn't feel that I could carry out this role. The best news is that I'm receiving some excellent treatment and have made progress that I've never made before.”
As expected, the vote was split 4-4 for both candidates. McGinley asked for a motion to table the decision until the July meeting.
Stewart emphasized the importance of the current board to resolve the vote. “I know that you talked about this, and we know where this direction is going. It would be really unfortunate to leave tonight to not resolve this. There's four people leaving this board. And, and the, the board's job is to set up what happens next.”
Stewart said, “I think it's a huge disappointment. And we've let the town down. We've let our school down. And, and, and so that people understand the way that this process happens.” She continued, “This was brought up at the last meeting, is that the, the chair, charges an outgoing member of the school board, to talk to every individual to come up with what they're going to put forth. Peter was charged with this and had discussions and took a lot of time with this and gathered that information. And, and understood who had interest and time commitment.”
Stewart pushed further, asserting that to table the decision would eliminate three of the ballots for Record and appeared to align with McGinley’s vote, which she denied.
A final vote of 7 - 1 followed Maksymowicz's statement that she would consider being vice-chair. The Board approved Record as chair and Maksymowicz as vice-chair, with McGinley opposing.
The new Board orientation is scheduled for July 18. Record and Maksymowicz will be tasked with shepherding the new school project.
June 25 at 9:30 pm: Updated to correct vote count.