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Residents urge transparent superintendent search; one requests LD 816‑mandated meeting be scheduled
Summary
Public commenters told the Saco School Board to adopt an open, representative process to select a permanent superintendent; Holly Trottier requested scheduling of a meeting between the board and employee representatives under LD 816 on the Nov. 23 agenda.
During the public comment period, two residents urged greater transparency in the search for a permanent Saco superintendent and made a procedural request under state law.
Holly Trottier told the board she recently learned about LD 816 and said it requires that a meeting requested by a public employees’ representative to occur between employees and the school board be held at a regularly scheduled meeting and that public notice be provided at least 10 days before the meeting. She asked to be placed on the Nov. 23 agenda to make the public request in that forum.
"I would like to request to speak at the November 23 meeting and make [a] public request," Trottier said.
Sue Neumeier spoke at length on behalf of a cross section of Saco taxpayers who have expressed concerns about the superintendent search. She urged the board to establish a transparent search process that solicits public involvement, includes people representing a variety of constituencies (parents, staff, retirees, city officials), and is formed without favoritism.
"There needs to be a transparent process in place to search for a permanent superintendent," Neumeier said, and added that public confidence depends on visible, fair involvement opportunities.
The chair thanked both speakers and proceeded to the superintendent’s report; the board did not make a decision on Trottier’s scheduling request during the public comment period, but the request was recorded on the speakers list.
