BAR HARBOR — Howard Colter will stay on for a second year as interim superintendent of the Mount Desert Island Regional School System (MDIRSS) to give the school board more time to search for a permanent superintendent.
Mr. Colter began a one-year term as interim superintendent on July 1, following the departure of superintendent Rob Liebow.
Mr. Colter and members of the school board have said recently that it is unlikely the search process could be completed in time for the new superintendent to be on board by next summer. Mr. Colter has said he would be willing to stay for another year, if that’s what the board wanted. On Monday night, the board informally agreed to take him up on that offer. A formal vote on extending his contract for one year is expected at the board’s Dec. 13 meeting.
The board also has informally endorsed a committee’s recommendations on the process and timeline for choosing a new superintendent. The search committee would start doing preliminary work in April, but would not advertise the position and begin the search until September.