LIVERMORE FALLS — The RSU 73 board Thursday night welcomed newly appointed Superintendent Kenneth Healey and hired Kevin Harrington as principal of Livermore Elementary School.

Healey, the former principal of Lisbon High School, said he had been spending many hours with the district’s administrative team, touring schools and learning about the budget and history of the district from business manager Stacie Field.

“I thank everyone for their kindness, and especially the board for giving me this opportunity,” he said. “I thank you all for a great first week.”

Spruce Mountain Middle School Principal Scott Albert was appointed acting superintendent when Healey is absent during a crisis.

“If a decision must be made, Scott will step in,” Healey said.

A time for the public to meet with Healey in August in the middle school cafeteria.

“I want to reach out to the community and to learn their concerns,” Healey said.

Healey succeeds Robert Wall, who retired in June.

The board unanimously hired Harrington from a field of 11 applicants. He comes from Piscataquis Community Secondary School in Guilford, where he has served as principal for several years.

He is originally from Augusta and his wife is a teacher in Auburn.

Harrington succeeds Robert Kahler, who resigned in June to take a similar position in Lisbon.

In other matters, Healey said the district’s application to the state Department of Education asking for an extension for the implementation of standards-based high school diplomas must be resubmitted because the state changed the way application are to be written.

The state originally mandated that all high schools provide standards-based diplomas by 2018. Since then, it was changed to 2020.

Healey said Spruce Mountain High School will need another year or two before all graduates can receive a diploma that shows they have met certain academic standards.