TOPSHAM — Scott McKernan, a member of the School Administrative District 75 Board of Directors since 2007, is resigning to take a job in California.

With two years remaining in his current term, McKernan’s Topsham seat will be on the Nov. 3 election ballot, along with the seat held by Dorothy Gardner, who plans to run again.

Nomination papers are due back to the office of Town Clerk Linda Dumont by Sept. 21.

McKernan’s final board meeting was Aug. 27. In California he will be director of facilities for the Santa Rosa City Schools, he said last week.

McKernan has lived in Maine nearly 18 years. He retired from the U.S. Navy in 2002, and was facilities director for the Brunswick and South Portland school departments. He was most recently project manager for the Augusta office of the TRC engineering firm.

During his time on the School Board, he chaired its Comprehensive Strategic Planning Committee, was vice chairman of the board and chairman of its Finance Committee, and was chairman of the board during the 2013-2014 school year.

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McKernan said his experience as an administrator in Brunswick was one factor prompting his initial interest in the School Board.

“I wanted to get a better understanding of how the board I worked for operated, by being on the board here,” he explained. “I thought I had some skills and knowledge that would be good to bring to the board here. … It turned out to be a very good match, and it certainly helped me, and hopefully helped the board here a little bit.”

McKernan said he was also eager to use his skills from building projects in Brunswick and South Portland for the eventuality that SAD 75 might finally receive state approval to either renovate or rebuild Mt. Ararat High School.

With that approval now in hand, SAD 75 is exploring its options.

Even though he’s leaving in the initial stages of that long process, McKernan said, “at least I got to see it happen.”

Alex Lear can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 113 or alear@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @learics.

Scott McKernan


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