Winthrop Superintendent of Schools Jim Hodgkin, pictured here in 2023, has resigned effective Nov. 1, citing the behavior of two unnamed School Board members.

WINTHROP — The superintendent of the Winthrop Public Schools has resigned effective Nov. 1, saying in a letter to the School Board that two of its members have made his job difficult in recent months.

Jim Hodgkin, who said he once intended on working at Winthrop Public Schools until his retirement, has served in the role for four years and earns $116,000 a year.

His fiery resignation letter, sent to the School Board Aug. 1, details his frustration with the board, citing two unnamed members who he said are not fulfilling their elected duties, including not attending subcommittee meetings and failing to address the concerns of the public.

“It was my intent to finish my career here in Winthrop,” Hodgkin wrote, “but circumstances with school board members who do not understand their roles has made it impossible for me to stay here. I can assure you I will make every effort to let the citizens of Winthrop know what it has been like for me to do my job over the past seven months.”

In the letter, he alleged that the school administration and staff feel the same way.

“As the Superintendent, I am the person (and the only person) that should be communicating directly with the School Board,” he wrote. “However, I represent the administrative team and the entire staff of the Winthrop Public Schools and they have clearly articulated their displeasure with members of the School Board and the way two members do their role.

“I can assure you that if something dramatic does not change with those members, than the feedback to the Board from the Administrators and the staff will only continue to escalate.”

Hodgkin said the issue of having board members who do not follow policy in their elected roles is not new, and as such, the town should be more aware of “quality representation.”

Neither Hodgkin nor School Board Chairperson Alicia Lawson would identify the two board members referred to in the letter.

Hodgkin has expressed public frustration with board members Ivy Corliss and Vice Chair Monika McLaughlin, specifically throughout the budget process when the pair wanted more information regarding the school’s transportation budget and did not find Hodgkin’s attempts to obtain the information for them helpful, which resulted in their votes against the first version of the school budget.

Corliss declined comment and McLaughlin did not respond to emails seeking comment.

The other board members are Catherine Emery and Timothy Wess.

Also mentioned in the letter as a factor in Hodgkin’s resignation are “inflammatory rumors” he said were spread across the community about an incident in Winthrop schools. He said staff have been trained in new Title IX regulations, which protect against sex discrimination and harassment, promote accountability and fairness in cases, and empower students and families.

Moving forward, Hodgkin said he supports Lawson as chairperson. He said he has spoken with her about his concerns over the other board members, but that her attempts to individually address the issue has failed.

Hodgkin said he thinks a more direct approach is needed and that he will help Lawson do so in his last months.

“I believe the time to take more direct action has come and I will do my part to try and restore the Winthrop School Board to be respectful with clearly defined roles,” he said.

Lawson said the School Board met in a special meeting Tuesday to discuss moving forward and the prospect of contracting with Steve Bailey, the director of Maine School Management Association, to help with a superintendent search. She said that all members are focused on the education of the students and want what’s best for the students when choosing a new superintendent.

Lawson said the board also discussed hiring an interim superintendent to finish out the school year after Hodgkin’s last day on Nov. 1.

“I don’t think any of us have gone through this before,” said Lawson. “The oldest board member (Wess) has been on the board for four years, in his second term, and he didn’t have any experience hiring a new superintendent. We are all fresh and getting a lot of support.”

Lawson would not comment about Hodgkin’s job performance and referred back to the superintendent evaluation, which is confidential as a personnel record.

When asked by email Thursday if he has a comment on the matter, Hodgkin, who is out of the country, said he intends to be more public after the Aug. 21 Winthrop School Board meeting.