WINTHROP — The Winthrop School Board on Wednesday hired Becky Foley as interim superintendent, following the resignation of Jim Hodgkin.

Becky Foley File photo

Foley is expected to lead Winthrop’s schools until July 1, while helping the School Board identify and hire a new superintendent.

Her salary through June 30 is $138,793, plus $1,000 annually for in-state mileage and $50 a month stipend for a cellphone.

The next step for the board is to find Hodgkin’s full-time successor, though some board members said they remain unclear on what path they will take to get there.

Board Chair Alicia Lawson updated the public Wednesday on the timeline for the superintendent search, which drew a comment from board member Catherine Emery.

“Did we agree on a process?” Emery said. “I’m not aware of an agreed upon process and we need that moving forward.”

Lawson explained that the board will have a search committee to make decisions related to hiring a permanent superintendent.

Emery said she wanted to make sure the entire board is on the same page related to the hiring process. Winthrop hopes to have a full-time superintendent in place by July 1, 2025.

School Board member Monika McLaughlin said she remembers discussing the search when the board had Maine School Management Association Executive Director Steve Bailey present to the board on the process. However, she said, the board did not have more discussion after Bailey’s presentation and took no further action.

“I believe in the last meeting when we were listening to Steve Bailey, we talked about one of our next focuses being drafting and updating the job description,” McLaughlin said. “That was my understanding of where we are going.”

The board voted 4-0-1 to hire Foley as the interim superintendent, with Timothy Wess abstaining because he was absent when the board interviewed her. Lawson said the interim superintendent interviews ended Tuesday.

Hodgkin resigned Aug. 1, citing two School Board members who he felt were not fulfilling their elected duties . The board decided to terminate his contract last week, rather than wait until the end of his 90-day notice, which would have been Nov. 1.

The Maine School Management Association, or MSMA, offers help to school districts with superintendent searches. As part of that service, the association offers a list of interim superintendents who are willing to take a temporary position until a permanent superintendent is hired, Foley among them.

It is expected to cost the district $2,500 to $6,000 to have the MSMA, a nonprofit organization, help with the superintendent search.

Lawson introduced Foley at the meeting and applauded her experience in education.

“I believe Dr. Foley is an outstanding educational leader who truly believes it takes a village for all our students to reach their potential,” Lawson said. “We are all excited to have her join our team in helping to realize this vision.”

Foley began her career in Winthrop as a student teacher in a third grade class, but served as an administrator for most of her career.

She retired from Freeport-based Regional School Unit 5 in 2022 after six years as superintendent. Before that, she was assistant superintendent in Maine School Administrative District 52 in Turner from February 2011 to August 2015.

Foley said at Wednesday’s meeting she is excited to move the district forward.

“I will start tomorrow morning and meet staff and students and also met with (Hodgkin) to ensure we have a smooth transition,” she said. “I’m looking forward to moving the district forward.”