Duquette to stay in Gorham

Gorham Middle School Principal Dennis Duquette won’t be leaving for a job in Cape Elizabeth.

Marie South, chairman of the Gorham School Committee, said Friday that Duquette had withdrawn his application for a position as principal of Cape Elizabeth Middle School. South said Duquette hand delivered a letter to the Cape Elizabeth superintendent’s office Thursday.

A Cape Elizabeth search committee announced on April 12 that Duquette was a finalist for the position there, along with Steven Connolly, assistant principal at Portland High School. Two Cape Elizabeth sources said Friday they hadn’t heard that Duquette had withdrawn his application.

Gorham Superintendent Ted Sharp notified Gorham School Committee members and parents late this week that Duquette would stay in Gorham. The news calmed fears that the Gorham Middle School might lose Duquette.

“He’s staying, and I’m very pleased,” said Steve Morin, a Gorham School Committee member.

Roger Marchand, a Gorham School Committee member, said that he had been notified in an e-mail on Thursday from Sharp that Duquette would stay as Gorham principal. “I heard he’s staying and it makes us all happy,” Marchand said.

Anne Belden, a member of the Cape Elizabeth School Board and the search committee, hadn’t heard on Friday that Duquette was no longer a candidate for the job. She said that their search committee planned to meet on Tuesday to discuss the two finalists.

Deborah Casey, wife of John Casey, a search committee member who is also assistant principal at the Cape Elizabeth Middle School, also said the committee had not been notified of Duquette’s withdrawal. Schools were on vacation last week.

South said that the Gorham School Committee would meet in executive session at 7 p.m. on Monday, April 25, in Sharp’s office to discuss the Duquette situation. “It’s in light of his decision to stay,” South said.

Several Gorham parents, hoping that Duquette would stay, met with Sharp on Friday last week. That meeting followed a large contingent of parents who praised Duquette at a school committee meeting on April 13. The parents were alarmed after learning that day in the American Journal that Duquette was a finalist for the Cape job.

Wendy Friend, whose son, Wilson, is a Gorham Middle School student, said Duquette cares about the kids. “I’m so glad,” Friend said of the news that Duquette was staying. “We don’t want to lose him. He’s too good.”

////News that Duquette is staying thrilled parents and about 100 are expected at a special meeting of the Gorham School Committee at 7 p.m. today, April 27. “Everyone is ecstatic. It’s wonderful news,” said another middle school parent, Lisa Shiers.

A liaison group is forming to work on the overall middle school environment, which is evolving from that of a junior high school. The new group will include parents, educators and members of the school committee and will work with Sharp. “It’s a wonderful step and we’re working towards a common goal,” said parent Kelley Skillin-Smith.////

Duquette was named principal of the new Gorham Middle School when it opened in the fall of 2003. It replaced the former Shaw Junior High School.

Morin credited Duquette as instrumental in Gorham’s transition from a junior high to a middle school. “Dennis was the prescription for what ailed us,” said Morin, a middle school parent. “He has a great deal of energy and connects well with the students.”