Maine news, sports, weather from Waterville Morning Sentinel

March 13

SAD 59, superintendent agree to another year

BY ERIN RHODA Staff Writer

MADISON -- Lyford Beverage will remain superintendent of School Administrative District 59 for another year.

School board members voted this week for Beverage to continue working per diem until June 30, 2011.

The school board hired him this summer as interim superintendent after Michael Gallagher, who had served as superintendent for both SAD 59 and SAD 53 in Pittsfield, resigned to concentrate on his duties in SAD 53.

SAD 59 includes Madison, Athens, Starks and Brighton Plantation.

Beverage's yearly salary will remain the same, at between $80,000 and $88,000, he said. Because his position is per diem, he receives $400 a day, at between 200 and 220 days a year.

In addition, he receives a $12,500 cafeteria benefits plan.

"I didn't request any more. I felt it was fair. I felt it was a savings to the district, but this district has been very, very good to me, and I think they've treated me very nicely, and I'm very comfortable, very satisfied," he said.

Beverage has been a superintendent in districts across the state, including districts based in Stacyville, Milo and Whitefield.

"I'm out of retirement. If this were not something I could enjoy, I wouldn't be doing it," he said. "I've found wonderful people to work with. I've found a system for which I think I can provide some insights and some experience. Collectively, the administration, the board and I are generally in agreement about the areas that we should focus attention on over the next year, and certainly student achievement is one of those."

The Maine Department of Education named Madison Area Memorial High School this week as one of Maine's 10 "persistently lowest-achieving" schools, based on the past three years of SAT scores.

"The board was very happy to see Lyford stay for another school year," said Troy Emery, chairman of the school board. "Lyford fit in very well with the district and the community, and we enjoy the consistency of having him for another year."

Beverage said he does not anticipate working after next year.