ROCKLAND — An interim superintendent and a new school board chairman are the latest developments in the ongoing saga of RSU 13 and its leadership woes. At its Feb. 11 regular RSU 13 meeting, held at theMcClain School, the school board voted 9 to 2 to appoint Michael Wilhelm, of Casco, as interim superintendent. He will take over the reins from outgoing Superintendent Lew Collins, whose last day is this Friday. Board member Steve Roberts, of Rockland, was elected to replace board chairman Tess Kilgour, who resigned her position. Roberts will take over March 5, and Kilgour will serve out her remaining term as a board member.

Wilhelm will earn $500 a day as interim superintendent, plus housing and mileage for visiting the RSU 13 schools. RSU 13 Vice Chairman Loren Andrews opposed the hiring because he wanted to know where money to pay the superintendent would derive.

Steve Roberts edged by George Emory, of St. George, to become the new chair.

During the meeting, citizens attending the meeting pleaded, demanded and chastised the board for animosity toward other board members and the state of the schools.

Members of the board chastised Kilgour for “muzzling the public” after she read a list of conditions in order for the public to speak; those conditions included the possibility of calling law enforcement for unruly behaviour. One woman demanded that Kilgour call the police after she was censored by Kilgour while she speaking to the board at the podium and attempted to submit a petition with 229 signatures to the board. The petition requested that the board not appoint Collins as interim superintendent.

The board was scheduled to go into an executive session at 6:30 p.m. and by 6:20 p.m. only one speaker had had a chance to address the baord. After an argument and some bickering among the board members it was decided to let the speakers have their say and the board would go behind closed doors.

There was more turmoil after Kilgour cut off the last speaker and demanded the board go into executive session. A vote killed the motion for that session. Kilgour called a recess and left the room. She was followed by several other board members. That left the remaining board members and the public wondering what was going on.

After approximately 15 minutes, Kilgour and board members returned and continued with the meeting, getting down to the business of approving an interim superintendent and elect a new board chairman.