RUMFORD – It’s back to square one.

The Superintendent Search Committee told the SAD 43 board Monday night that it is reopening the search for a new administrative leader.

“None of the candidates met the criteria we had set for ourselves for the district,” said David McKivergan, committee chairman and member of the SAD 43 Personnel Committee.

The search committee interviewed four semi-finalists for the position last week. The four were chosen from a listing of 10 qualified applicants as screened by the Maine School Management Association.

The board voted to recontract with MSMA to serve as the recipient for new applications for superintendent, to place advertisements in local media and to provide the initial screening. Board Chairwoman Betty Barrett said the cost for the services was about $1,500 for the first superintendent search.

The closing date for the new search is May 16.

McKivergan said the committee should begin screening applications by May 22, then start the interviewing process the week of May 27.

He said a new superintendent could be named by mid-June. He said he wasn’t disappointed that the first round of applicants didn’t work out. “We’ve got to face reality because of the competition we’re facing,” he said.

About 30 districts around the state are looking for new superintendents, he said.

If a superintendent isn’t found by the end of the June, the district could hire an interim superintendent from a list maintained by MSMA until a permanent replacement is found.

The SAD 43 opening is the result of Superintendent Danny Michaud’s resignation, effective July 1. Michaud has served as the district’s leader for eight years, and as high school principal for one or two years before that.

eadams@sunjournal.com