Board members voted in favor of “sadly accepting” the resignation of Interim Superintendent Alan Hawkins during their most recent meeting April 9. Hawkins fell ill due to a serious blood-borne infection last month. His doctors have advised him to not continue in his role for Sheepscot Valley Regional School Unit 12. His resignation became effective April 12.

The RSU Board of Directors hired Hawkins last June following the resignation of Superintendent Greg Potter. The towns in RSU 12 (Alna, Palermo, Windsor, Chelsea, Whitefield, Somerville, Westport Island and Wiscasset) will see a new superintendent in the coming school year. Howard “Howie” Tuttle, Director of Curriculum and Instruction at Gardiner area schools, was hired by the board to take Hawkin's place starting July 1 this year.

Assistant Superintendent Patricia Watts has been fulfilling the role of Acting Superintendent since early March, according to a letter addressed to the RSU Board of Directors from chairman Hilary Holm.

Starting April 22, Watts will continue to serve as Acting Superintendent in addition to her regular duties as Curriculum Coordinator until the end of the fiscal school year, which ends on June 30. The board approved paying Watts an additional $75 per work day in compensation for her expanded role.

Tuttle will act as a consultant to Watts during the remaining weeks of the school year. From May 1 to June 30 (a total of 16 work days) he will serve in this capacity two days per week and will be paid $400 per work day.

Holm also announced the resignation of Windsor School Principal Rob Moody, effective June 30. Moody has been asked to provide his expertise at the new Goodwill-Hinkley School, according to Holm.