DEER ISLE, Maine — A familiar face is returning to School Union 76 following a tumultuous several weeks that led to the resignation of the school district’s top official.
Mark Hurvitt, who has experience serving as Union 76’s interim superintendent, will take over from Dan Ross, whose two-year stint as superintendent came to an abrupt end on Dec. 7 when he submitted his letter of resignation. His resignation came two days after the union held an emergency meeting, at which the 15-member board unanimously voted to place Ross on paid leave.
By the morning of Monday, Dec. 9, Hurvitt was settling into the role at the Union 76 office in Deer Isle.
Hurvitt was the principal of Deer Isle-Stonington Elementary School from 1997 to 2003 and later served as the superintendent in neighboring School Union 93, until his retirement in June 2021. He returned in 2022 to serve as the interim superintendent for School Union 76 for five months, prior to the hiring of Dan Ross.
Hurvitt, a Blue Hill resident, opened the Devil’s Half Acre Beer Garden in his hometown this past summer. He said he will continue to operate the business, which he co-owns with his wife and operates seasonally.
Hurvitt said the process of stepping in as interim superintendent moved swiftly.
“I got a call from [SU 76 board chair] Mike Sealander on Friday [Dec. 6] saying, ‘Oh, you want to come back?’ And I said, ‘Well, let’s talk,’” Hurvitt said. “We talked Friday and by Saturday had it all worked out, and here I am on Monday.”
Hurvitt said he enjoys Union 76, and his experience with the district lends a feeling of familiarity.
“I’m no stranger to Brooklin, Sedgwick or Deer Isle-Stonington or Isle au Haut. So I know the Island and the environs pretty well,” Hurvitt said. “I like the people. I like the vibe here. I think it’s a great school district.”
Hurvitt will receive a salary of $102,200. His position offers no benefits other than 15 paid days off, for the period from Dec. 9 to June 30, 2025, according to Sealander.
Sedgwick School Board Chair Allen Cole served as the principal in Penobscot and worked with Hurvitt during his 15-year tenure as superintendent in School Union 93 for many years.
“I think Mark will be the perfect fit to see us through while we’re conducting our search for a new superintendent,” Cole said in an email. “He was the [School Union 93] superintendent for most of my 13 years as principal in Penobscot. He’s always prepared. His decisions and responses to situations are carefully thought out.”
Cole added that Hurvitt’s experience in the area schools is a significant benefit.
“I don’t know who could have been a better hire to see us through this school year,” Cole said.
Hurvitt addressed the audience of approximately 30 people during Monday’s regularly scheduled meeting of the Community School District 13 School Board. He said he had spent his first day back in the interim role visiting the union’s schools and talking to people.
“That’s very intentional,” he said. “I think part of the job of being superintendent is being visible and communicative.”
Hurvitt said his goal is to be a role model, “modeling hard work,” and said he hopes that his work will assist in “eventually inspiring some confidence.” Hurvitt said one of his immediate tasks is to begin working on school budgets.
“By the time I leave here in June, hopefully there will be a lot of trust around the union,” he said. “That’s my goal.”
This article appears through a media sharing agreement with the Penobscot Bay Press. Will Robinson also contributed reporting.