The Kennebunk and Kennebunkport select boards appointed two interim directors to the RSU 21 Board of Directors in September 2023. Wayne Sargent and Diane Franz will replace Lesley Stoeffler and Rachel Kennedy-Smith, respectively, as the school board experiences significant turnover.
Sargent was chosen unanimously by the Kennebunk Select Board, succeeding Stoeffler, who resigned in August without disclosing a reason. Select Board Chair Miriam Whitehouse noted that Sargent’s background as an educator and his calm demeanor impressed the board. “He said something about not going in with an agenda, and that really resonated with all of us because there has been so much strife on that board,” Whitehouse remarked.
The Kennebunk, Kennebunkport, and Arundel school district has undergone considerable changes in leadership over the past year. Stoeffler had previously stepped down from her role as chair in January 2023. In November 2022, former school board member Kirstin Shapiro resigned following several policy violations, while former chair Erin Nadeau left in May 2023 after a controversial social media post.
As he begins his tenure, Sargent’s supportive and non-combative approach is expected to be beneficial. “He’s not afraid to express his opinions, but once the board makes a decision, he will support the board,” Whitehouse added, highlighting the importance of unity in decision-making.
In Kennebunkport, the select board appointed Diane Franz to fill the vacancy left by Kennedy-Smith, who resigned in July 2023. Kennedy-Smith cited the selection of Martin Grimm as the new superintendent as a significant factor in her departure. The Kennebunkport Select Board unanimously selected Franz from three candidates on September 11, 2023.
Franz has a history of involvement with the board, having previously served in similar interim roles. She first filled a vacancy in 2023 and later ran for a seat but lost to Kennedy-Smith in the 2024 election. After Nadeau’s resignation, she was again appointed to the board, but did not seek reelection in June 2024.
Both Franz and Sargent were selected after a candidate night where they and other candidates answered questions from school board Chair Matthew Stratford. “Every candidate has the same questions,” Whitehouse explained, noting that the selection process included public deliberation before appointments were made.
Sargent and Franz will serve on the RSU 21 Board of Directors until June 30, 2026. If they wish to continue beyond this date, they will need to run for reelection, providing an opportunity for community engagement in the governance of local education.
