A New Hampshire-based communications consultant has been hired to work with the Marshwood school district.
Luke “TJ” Atwell, principal consultant for Atwell Communications of Newmarket, will be retained by the MSAD35 board of directors to help with communication and public relations on a part-time basis.
Atwell, a former military communication specialist, was introduced to board members at their June 17 meeting. His firm consults with government agencies, municipalities, educational institutions, non-profits and businesses that need communications assistance.
“We’re excited to have him on board to help us get our good news out,” said school board Chair Joe Long.
Also at the meeting, Heidi Early-Hersey, interim superintendent, told the board that only the most urgent planned summer building maintenance projects will be completed., with the remaining projects deferred until 2027 because of fuel cost increases.
Early-Hersey expressed appreciation to the community for supporting the school system, with 69% of voters casting their ballots in favor of the proposed $14.6 million 2026-27 school budget.
She also reported that the district’s administrative assistants, until now unrepresented, are forming a bargaining unit for the upcoming salary negotiations. The current teacher contracts end in April.
The board voted to accept a $10,000 anonymous donation to support scholarships for the annual Jerry Burnell Great Works School’s overnight trip to Pinkham Notch for fifth graders.
The board also voted to hire the following new teachers:
- Erin Murphy will teach world languages at the Marshwood Middle School as well as one French class at the Marshwood High School.
- Elizabeth Irvine-McDermott will be the literacy interventionist/literacy coach at the Jerry Burnell Great Works School.
- Megan Zottoli-Breen, Central School teacher, will also serve as part-time assistant principal at the grade school.
- Barbara Mandell will teach Growing Hawks, a foundational skills building curriculum for sixth grade students at Marshwood Middle School, a half-time position.
The board accepted the resignations of Lynn Dube, pre-K teacher, and Debra Phelps, second grade teacher, both at Central School.
During their June 3 meeting, the directors had thanked the following retiring teachers for their years of service:
- Linda Greer, Adult Education director, 7 years; Pamela Mulcahey, classroom teacher, 26 years; Colleen Carson, classroom teacher, 38 years; Elizabeth Clark, classroom teacher, 23 years; Tracy LaPointe, classroom teacher, 40 years; Lee Petrie, classroom teacher, 38 years; Ellen Cronauer, ed tech, 19 years; and Jerry Burnell, principal, 47 years.
The board will meet this summer on July 15 and Aug. 24. The regular twice monthly meeting schedule on the first and third Wednesday of the month will resume in September.
