RSU 5 board unanimously elects Thomas Gray as superintendent for three-year term

The RSU 5 board of directors voted unanimously Wednesday to elect Thomas Gray as superintendent of schools for a three-year term at a special meeting June 25 in the Freeport High School library.

The vote installs Thomas Gray, the current assistant superintendent at RSU 40, as superintendent of RSU 5. Board members said the hire followed a comprehensive search and interview process conducted with MSMA and a superintendent search committee made up of parents, teachers, administrators and students. Gray is expected to begin full-time in the district in mid-August and will spend time with district staff before the school year starts.

Board members described a thorough selection process and expressed confidence in Gray's fit with the district. A board member noted Gray brings nearly 30 years of experience in education and said the board is "extremely excited" to welcome him. The motion to elect Gray "for a period of 3 years" was made and seconded by Maura and Anna; the board chair called for a voice vote and said the result was a "resounding yes, unanimous."

During remarks after the vote, Thomas Gray told the board, "I'm so thrilled. I'm just I'm thrilled and I bowled over. Like, I'm speechless at the whole thing. I won't I won't give a speech. It's I'm really grateful." The board chair said Gray will work with district staff, including Jean, to get up to speed before the start of school.

The meeting also included brief recognition of departing board members. The chair thanked Cheyenne, whose seat will be filled by an appointed member from July or August until the November election, and Vice Chair Beth Munson for her six years on the board, several of them as vice chair.

The board did not record individual roll-call votes in the transcript; the chair described the vote as unanimous. No additional policy changes, contract details or salary information were included in the meeting record.