Superintendent, business manager put on paid leave

POLAND — It is likely to be weeks before a permanent decision is made regarding the future of RSU 16 Superintendent Dennis Duquette and Business Manager Rick Kusturin, who were placed on paid leave, pending an investigation into the district's management.

A short official statement released by School Committee Chair Mary Ella Jones referred to it as a "challenging period" for the district.

On February 27, the district School Committee met to discuss a "personnel matter," after which Duquette and Kusturin were placed on paid leave.

"Those two individuals are on leave," said Jones. "We're doing a review; we don't know how long that will take."

Two days later, at an emergency meeting of the board, Dr. Michael Wilhelm of Casco was hired as interim superintendent.

"There are certain things that only a superintendent can do," said Jones. She said that district administrators have been doing their best to handle the challenge.

"The staff has been extremely helpful and done a lot of problem solving," she said.

Wilhelm began his new duties on Monday.

Duquette and Kusturin have overseen the consolidation of schools in Mechanic Falls, Minot and Poland into RSU 16.

Last year, the district struggled to get voters to approve its budget; voters in the three towns initially rejected an $18.1 million budget with a 715-436 vote.

Administrators have been tight-lipped about the reason behind the emergency moves.

Jones dispelled rumors that the actions were the direct result of a recent audit of the district's finances.

"Our audit was fine," she said. "It took place in the fall, and it was fine."

Jones said that more information would be released in the near future.

"As soon as we have something that we can report we will," she said.

The district's attorney is Bruce Smith, of the Portland-based law firm Drummond Woodsum.

Smith said that he is prevented by law from speaking about personnel matters, but estimated that it would take "at least several weeks" before a more permanent decision is made regarding the positions.