FARMINGTON — Regional School Unit 9 directors voted unanimously Monday night to accept the Administrator Evaluation Committee’s recommendation to hire James Black of Wilton as the new Mt. Blue Middle School principal, Superintendent Tom Ward said Tuesday.

Black was one of two candidates interviewed by the board’s committee, he said. Five applications were received for the middle school principal position, Ward said.

Black, who is the assistant principal and athletic director at Spruce Mountain High School in Jay, will start his duties at the Farmington school on Monday, Aug. 21.

He will be paid $87,500, the same salary as Jason Bellerose, who submitted his resignation as principal of the middle school in July. Bellerose is a new assistant principal at Skowhegan Area High School. Bellerose planned to stay on at RSU 9 until a new principal was hired.

Black, who had previously served on the RSU 9 board of directors, was offered a two-year probationary contact, Ward said.

He is a graduate of Mt. Blue High School and the University of Maine at Farmington.

Black, who is also a businessman, taught social studies for 10 years at Skowhegan Area High School. He then served as dean of students/athletic director at Mt. Abram High School in Salem Township before taking the Jay position, Ward said.

“We are pleased with the cooperation from RSU 73,” allowing Black to start his new position next week, he said. 

dperry@sunmediagroup.net

James Black