BAR HARBOR, Maine — A leading candidate for the position of superintendent of the Mount Desert Island school system is expected to make a daylong visit to the island on Thursday, according to information posted on the system’s website.
Marc Gousse, a Navy veteran, is superintendent of schools in Westbrook, according to a copy of his resume posted on the MDI schools’ website. He is scheduled to visit MDI High School and elementary schools in Bar Harbor, Mount Desert, Southwest Harbor, Tremont and Trenton on Thursday.
A public reception for Gousse will be held from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the high school library on Route 233.
The school system’s search committee evaluated 18 applicants and completed an initial round of interviews by mid-May, according to information posted on the system’s website.
Charles Wray, chairman of the school system board, said Wednesday evening that the board has not eliminated other candidates who have been interviewed from consideration, but Gousse is their top choice for the job.
“We think he is a great match for our school district,” Wray said. “He’s visiting [Thursday] and we’ll see how it goes.”
A biographical description of Gousse, also linked to the MDI school system’s website, indicates that he is a Lewiston native and a 1982 graduate of Maine Maritime Academy in Castine. He has been a schoolteacher or administrator since 1984 and was an elected member of the Lewiston City Council from 1999 to 2001.
“In addition to his present role, he currently serves on the board of directors for the United Way of Greater Portland, Westbrook Children’s Cabinet, Westbrook Housing Authority, Westbrook Development Corporation, Maine Maritime Academy, as a corporator for Saco and Biddeford Savings Institution, and as an adjunct professor at Husson University,” the biographical summary indicates.
According to the posted agenda for the MDI school system’s board meeting on Tuesday, May 31, the board is expected to hold an executive session on a personnel matter at 5:30 p.m. and, immediately thereafter, to consider an “appointment of superintendent.”
Whoever is picked as the new superintendent will replace Howard Colter, who first served as MDI’s superintendent from 1992 to 2004 and held the position again since 2012.
