Cape Elizabeth has a new superintendent. Alan Hawkins has signed a letter of intent to become Cape Elizabeth’s superintendent effective July 1.
He was chosen unanimously by the Cape School Board at a special business meeting Tuesday evening.
The contract is still in negotiations, but School Board Chairman Kevin Sweeney said Hawkins would be offered roughly the amount Susan O’Brien was, or $105,000. O’Brien backed out of her contract last year.
Hawkins is expected to sign a two-year contract is expected. O’Brien’s contract was to have been for five years. Interim Superintendent Bob Lyman was hired for a single year at a salary of $100,000 after O’Brien resigned the post before even starting it.
Hawkins, a resident of South Portland, worked in the South Portland schools as a teacher and then principal of Small Elementary and Memorial Middle Schools for more than 30 years. In 2002 Hawkins left South Portland to become superintendent of the Wiscasset school department. Hawkins began his teaching career in Millinocket in 1969.
Hawkins was selected after multiple rounds of interviews with an 18-member search committee, the School Board and a final forum for parents and teachers to pepper three finalists with questions and concerns.
Sweeney said all three candidates were extraordinarily qualified and the difference between them was a matter of personal style.
“Following very close consideration and many hours of discussion it was decided that Hawkins was the best fit for Cape Elizabeth,” Sweeney said. “We’ve had nothing but positive comments about him from all kinds of stakeholders. … His reputation in all the communities where he has worked is impeccable.”
Hawkins arrived at the School Board meeting on Tuesday in the high school library to watch the board members vote on his selection. After the vote and applause he said a few words in which he praised Cape Elizabeth and the School Board for the comprehensive hiring process they conducted.
“It really pushed my thinking about my superintendency,” said Hawkins.
Hawkins will not take over the position until July 1, but said he will begin to attend School Board meetings to accustom himself with the community and the school system.
“I look forward to working with each and every one of you and to continue on the road to make this the very best school system in the country,” Hawkins told the board and administrators present. “Cape Elizabeth is a community focused on educating their children the best they can.”
He also praised the Cape Elizabeth Education Foundation, saying it was “an amazing group” that the community was lucky to have.
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