The School Administrative District 75 board of directors unanimously appointed a familiar face as business manager.

Mark Conrad began his school business administration career in SAD 75 and was business manager from 1989 through 1995. Conrad fills the position that has been vacant following the unexpected July 20 death of former business manager Steve Dyer.

Conrad moved to New Hampshire and between Nashua and Bedford school districts spent another 13 years in school business administration before moving to a superintendent’s position in Nashua.

“Mark has a wealth of experience and knowledge not only with running school budgets both here and New Hampshire, but over $250 million worth of school construction projects,” said Superintendent Brad Smith, regarding his nominee.

School board member David Johnson said he was relieved to have Conrad back.

Conrad said he loved working in the district, but left with his wife and family so their children would be closer to their grandparents. They’d always said they wanted to return to Maine when their children were grown.

Having been a superintendent for seven years in a community twice the size of Portland, he was looking for more of a work-life balance. It was the perfect time to return to Maine if a position opened up.

“It’s fate,” he said.

Business manager is always a challenging position, he said. SAD 75 has a school construction project going forward and budgets are a perennial concern for any district.

“What excites me is knowing the work environment I’m coming and the schools and the community,” he said. “It’s just a great place to work.”

While a lot has probably changed in 20 years, a lot likely hasn’t, Conrad said. There are still great people in the schools and communities. There are still four very different communities making up SAD 75 each with their own sense of pride and community, “yet people really come together well to make decisions in the best interest of students of all four towns, and I think that’s still here too.”

Conrad will start working just Mondays next month and begin full time after Thanksgiving.

dmoore@timesrecord.com