HOLDEN, Maine — A school unit that serves students from seven towns in Penobscot and Hancock counties is on the lookout for its next superintendent.
David Anderson, the current superintendent, however, isn’t going anywhere, he said in a telephone interview Tuesday.
“Let’s just say I’m transitioning out of the superintendent [position],” Anderson said with a chuckle.
In addition to his regular duties as principal of Holden School for nearly two decades, Anderson in recent years also served as part-time superintendent for Alternative Organizational Structure 81, a school unit comprised of School Administrative District 63’s member towns Holden, Eddington and Clifton and Community School District 8’s member towns of Amherst, Aurora, Great Pond and Osborn.
But after wearing multiple hats for the last several years, Anderson wants to go back to his former professional life.
“I said ‘yes’ [to serving as superintendent] twice, but now I’m actually in my fifth year of doing both roles,” he said.
“I made the decision [to leave the superintendent position], actually, back in July,” Anderson said. “I gave it a lot of thought and really realized that trying to be a building administrator and do the superintendent’s duties as well — although I’ve learned a lot — it has been challenging in many ways.
“And to be honest, I love so much the role of principal, and I’m thankful that I was able to hold on to that because it’s that day-to-day interaction with the children, supporting them and working with the parents and families — truly, the kid part is the best part,” he said.
Anderson, who has been the Holden School principal for the last 18 years, served as principal-interim SAD 63 superintendent between May and October of 2008, when the superintendent at the time was placed on administrative leave pending an investigation into her conduct.
After Anderson’s short stint as interim superintendent in 2008, SAD 63 board hired former Superintendent Ray Hart to do the job. Hart originally was hired in 1996 by the tri-district board, which covered Dedham, Airline district schools and SAD 63 at that time, and held the post until July 2003.
Hart served as interim superintendent until he was succeeded by Anderson in July 2010.
The superintendent position is part time at 156 days a year, according to a job listing posted on the ServingSchools website for educators, among other places.
The deadline for applying is Jan. 23, 2015. The new superintendent would start work next July 1.