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Scarborough board tables public‑comment policy, approves interim appointments and greenlights theater hires
Summary
At its Oct. 16 meeting the Scarborough Board of Education tabled second reading of public‑comment policy BEDH for further review, unanimously appointed Jennifer Landes as interim assistant principal, accepted staff transfers to cover high‑school leadership needs and approved Oak Hill Players hires; the board also voted to enter executive session on a labor contract.
The Scarborough Board of Education took several procedural and personnel actions at its Oct. 16 business meeting.
Policy BEDH (public comment at school board meetings) was scheduled for second reading but a board member moved to table the item pending additional research and community consultation; the motion was seconded and the board voted in favor (recorded as unanimous) to postpone the second reading so the policy committee can review outstanding questions.
On personnel, Superintendent Diane Neto reported non‑action transfers to cover leadership gaps following an unexpected staff death: Chris Murphy will serve as interim assistant principal at the high school for the remainder of the 2025–26 school year, and Ethan McGill will take on an interim student‑support lead role at the middle school. Those transfers were described as administrative reallocations and required no board vote.
The board unanimously approved the appointment of Jennifer (Jen) Landes as interim assistant principal at Scarborough Middle School for the remainder of the 2025–26 year. Trustees praised Landes’s experience as a counselor, SEL coach and prior assistant principal and noted the appointment is intended to provide continuity for students and staff.
The board also approved the hiring of an Oak Hill Players director and musical director after the district faced unexpected resignations, enabling the planned student musical to proceed. Trustees thanked staff who worked quickly to fill the positions.
Finally, the board voted to enter executive session pursuant to 1 MRSA §405(6)(A) to discuss the educational support professionals contract; the motion carried.
Why it matters: The actions maintain operational continuity at a time of personnel disruption and preserve the board’s review process for a contested public‑comment policy; the referendum outreach and a separate communications poster controversy — addressed during the meeting — create near‑term public focus on how the board communicates about ballot issues.
What’s next: The policy committee will rework BEDH for a future second reading, the interim administrators will serve for the school year while the district searches for permanent solutions, and the board will reconvene from executive session as required by law.
