FARMINGTON — RSU 9 Superintendent Tom Ward told the school board Tuesday that his administrative assistant, Dan Gazette, is retiring. His last day will be Oct. 4.

Gazette, of Farmington, has been with the school district for about 22 years. He worked a majority of that time under former Superintendent Michael Cormier, who retired in June.

In 2007, Gazette told the Sun Journal that he has gone from typing contracts on a typewriter to scanning documents onto his computer. He was then learning to send board minutes out by email.

Gazette has answered the phone for years at Central Office and was the first one people see as they walk in the door.

“He is a good man,” Director Bob Flick of Farmington said.

In other business, directors voted to approve the nomination of Carla Phair as a speech therapist for the district.

Ward also updated the board on support personnel.

Arin McLauglin was hired as an education technician III and Nichole Dustin as an education technician II, both in special education at Cape Cod Hill School in New Sharon. Sara Farmer and Marissa Allen were hired as education technician IIIs and Amanda Chick as education technician I for special education at the Mallett School in Farmington.

Sabrina Lowe and Donna Driscoll have filled education technician III positions in special education at the Cascade Brook School in Farmington.

Autumn Doiron was hired as an education technician II in special education at the Mt. Blue campus in Farmington.

Rodney Spiller was hired as an education technician III in forestry program at Mt. Blue High School.

Ward also informed the board that Jennifer Crafts, an education technician II in special education, has been approved to transfer from the Mt. Blue High School to the Mallett School.

He also told the board that resignations were received from Jamie Baxter, an education technician III at Cascade Brook School; Susan Haley, secretary at the Foster Career and Technical Education Center in Farmington; and Susan Phillips, a kindergarten teacher at Cushing School in Wilton.

In other matters, the board approved a field trip from the Jobs for Maine Graduates to a Leadership Conference at the Pine Tree Camp in Rome. They also approved a trip for Mt. Blue Voices to Disney World in Florida.

The singing group’s director, Dennis Hayes, told the board it will be his eighth time taking the musicians to Disney World.

“It is a great learning experience,” he said. There are multiple singing opportunities in front of large audiences.

The singers learn to navigate an airport and sing in the airport, he said.

“It is just a great experience overall,” Hayes said.

The board also approved an Ultimate Frisbee Club at the Mt. Blue campus. The student organizer has secured staff volunteers to help out the club. It will cost about $100, including buying Frisbees, high school Principal Monique Poulin said.

The school received donations last year and some of those funds will be used for the club.

It is money well spent to keep children active and fit, she said.

dperry@sunjournal.com