The board also approved Mt. Blue Assistant Principal Joel Smith to serve as the high school’s interim principal to replace Poulin. Smith will receive a stipend to cover his enhanced responsibilities.
In regard to fast-tracking the administrative hires, Meserve said that the district’s policy includes exceptions to the hiring process for unique circumstances.
“There is a pretty lengthy process and anyone who has been part of hiring administrators knows there’s usually a two-month or even a three-month process at times,” Meserve said. “And this has happened pretty rapidly partly because we’re in an emergency situation with a transition midyear, we’re in the middle of a pandemic and it’s important to get them filled.”