JAY — The Regional School Unit 73 board of directors elected a new chairwoman and vice chair and set tax assessments for the district’s three towns at its meeting Thursday night in Jay.
Directors also extended contracts for eight administrators and authorized three student trips.
With 11 of the 13 directors present, the board voted 6-5 to elect Holly Morris of Livermore as chair and 7-4 to elect Michele Moffett of Livermore Falls as vice chair.
Although neither position had a named opponent, Superintendent Scott Albert told the board it had to vote on one candidate at a time. After Morris was nominated, directors could vote only for or against her, though they could discuss anyone who might be nominated if she failed to win.
During discussion of Morris’s candidacy, Director Tamara Hoke of Jay said she would nominate Director Don Emery of Livermore Falls if Morris were defeated. Emery won a second term in the April 28 election, and Hoke was elected the same day to her first term.
Before the vote, Morris said she would work for “more board communication, more board cooperation.” She said she wanted members “to come together as a board” and to be transparent and involved in the district community.
The RSU 73 board has been divided over policies affecting transgender students. The district is one of seven being sued by the Maine Human Rights Commission after adopting a policy requiring students to conform to their gender at birth.
That topic did not arise during discussion of Morris’s candidacy, though observers have identified her as an opponent of transgender recognition.
Six directors voted for Morris: Dawn Strout and Tanya DeMillo of Jay; Andrew Sylvester and Morris of Livermore; and Kathy Bryant and Tammy Ferrari of Livermore Falls.
Five directors voted against her: Avery Ryder, Matt Brennick and Hoke of Jay; Sarah Jamison of Livermore; and Emery of Livermore Falls.
In the vote for vice chair, Moffett of Livermore Falls received support from Strout, DeMillo, Sylvester, Morris, Jamison, Emery and Ferrari. Ryder, Hoke, Brennick and Bryant voted against her.
Four directors — Bryant, Ryder, Brennick and Hoke — are new members elected last month. Ferrari also won her first full term after previously serving by appointment from the Livermore Falls Select Board to fill an unexpired term until the April 28 election.
Moffett and Danielle Brotherton, both of Jay, were absent. Moffett had told directors before the meeting that she would accept the vice chair position if elected.
The board approved property assessments for the three towns for the 2026-27 school year. The district’s total valuation rose about 9 percent for the second straight year, increasing to $10,883,033 from $9,952,460 in 2025-26.
Jay accounts for about 43 percent of the district’s valuation ($4,679,956), Livermore about 29 percent ($3,234,168) and Livermore Falls about 28 percent ($2,968,909).
Town‑by‑town increases closely matched the districtwide average. Jay’s valuation rose 9 percent, Livermore’s 8 percent and Livermore Falls’ about 8 percent. The increases from 2024-25 to 2025-26 were 10 percent for Jay, 12 percent for Livermore and 10 percent for Livermore Falls.
The board extended eight administrators’ contracts through June 30, 2028. Albert noted, however, that “the collective bargaining agreement that deals with wages, benefits, etc., has not been settled.”
The eight administrators are: TJ Plourde, principal of Spruce Mountain High School; Kristofer Targett, principal of Spruce Mountain Middle School; Patrick St. Clair, principal of Spruce Mountain Elementary School; Darcy Shink, principal of Spruce Mountain Primary School; Cherie Parker, special services director; Jenna Cote, 504 coordinator and assistant special services director; Mark Keller, athletic director and assistant principal at Spruce Mountain High School; and Chris Hollingsworth, curriculum coordinator and IT director.
Directors also approved three student trips: an international trip to Costa Rica in 2027-28; a Spruce Mountain High School Outdoor Club overnight camping trip to the Rangeley Lakes region; and a one‑day Spruce Mountain Middle School eighth grade trip by train to the Museum of Science in Boston.
All three trips are fully funded, so no appropriation was required. Directors approved each trip unanimously.
