David Bridgham, business manager for School Union 92, Tuesday night was appointed business manager for Regional School Unit 24 (RSU 24). Katrina Kane, interim school superintendent in Ellsworth, was named assistant superintendent.—STAFF PHOTO BY JACQUELINE WEAVER

SULLIVAN — Over the course of a three-hour meeting Tuesday night, the newly formed Regional School Unit 24 selected an assistant superintendent, a business manager and a principal for the Peninsula School in Winter Harbor.

Katrina Kane, interim superintendent in Ellsworth, will become RSU 24 assistant superintendent. David Bridgham will transition from his business manager post in School Union 92 to the RSU. And David Crandall of Farmington is the choice as new Peninsula School principal.

The 14-member board also authorized Superintendent Bill Webster to negotiate an oil contract with No Frills Oil Co. in Hancock for the next heating season at a price under $1.95 a gallon.

Webster, who was named superintendent of RSU 24 last week, said locking in oil prices now could potentially save the schools $150,000 next winter.

The anticipated savings are based on a $3-per-gallon price, which the superintendent said many school districts are estimating for the next heating season.

Webster said RSU 24, which includes Eastbrook, Ellsworth, Franklin, Gouldsboro, Hancock, Lamoine, Mariaville, Sorrento, Steuben, Sullivan, Waltham and Winter Harbor, is expected to consume 153,300 gallons of heating oil from Oct. 1, 2009, to April 30, 2010.

“The market is very unstable, very volatile,” Webster said.

The board, which met at Sumner Memorial High School, discussed and tabled until its meeting March 17 a decision on a salary and benefit package for Webster.

The board authorized Webster to look for office and garage space for RSU 24, which currently is spread among three superintendents’ offices, and gave him the authority to fill the remaining central office positions.

The one issue that failed to draw a unanimous vote was the hiring of an outside consultant to work with the board at its retreat April 4. Richard Gray and Alice Dow, both of Ellsworth, voted against hiring the consultant.

On the issue of locking in a heating oil contract, some members wondered if it was premature to do so, saying the current glut of crude oil could mean that oil prices might drop even more.

Richard Malaby of Hancock said with supertankers fully loaded with crude oil sitting offshore, waiting for buyers, perhaps it might be worth gambling that prices may drop even more.

“I think we’re going to see prices fall,” Malaby said. “But, I could be very wrong.”

Jeff Alley of Winter Harbor, who is a lobsterman, said he has been told to expect diesel fuel prices of up to $3 per gallon by Memorial Day.

“It’s a very good price,” he said of the below $1.95 per gallon figure.

Webster said the challenge is knowing what fuel figure to include as the budget is prepared.

Kane, who will become RSU 24 assistant superintendent, was director of the Hancock County Technical Center from 2005 until she was named Ellsworth’s interim superintendent in January. She was director of curriculum for the Ellsworth School Department from 2001 to 2005.

She obtained her undergraduate degree in elementary education from the University of Maine at Farmington and a master’s degree in literacy education from the University of Maine. She also trained in the Maine School Leadership Network and obtained a certificate in Educational Leadership, both at the University of Maine.

Bridgham has been business manager for School Union 92 for almost 19 years. He previously worked for the Training & Development Corp. for 11 years, ending his career there as senior associate for planning and management.

He obtained his undergraduate degree from the University of Maine, where he focused on history, political science, and other humanities. Bridgham is on the board of directors of the Maine Savings Federal Credit Union.

Crandall, who was approved as Webster’s nominee for principal of the Peninsula School, has been principal of the Phillips Elementary School in Phillips since 2004 and prior to that was assistant principal and athletic director at Carrabec High School in North Anson.