AUGUSTA -- Hodgkins Middle School has a new principal, Farrington Elementary a new assistant principal, and all the city's public school students have a new person overseeing their curriculum.

The Board of Education, in three unanimous votes, confirmed the nominations of Kathryn Hollicker as principal of Hodgkins, Jan Rollins as assistant principal of Farrington, and Tina Meserve as districtwide curriculum coordinator.

The new administrators were three of many new hires, including a dozen teachers, approved by the board Wednesday night.

"I'm always amazed at the high caliber of people we attract to the school department," Superintendent Cornelia Brown said before introducing the new staff members.

Hollicker takes over as principal at Hodgkins from Jeff Boston, who resigned to take a different job. She was the assistant principal at Farrington last school year. Prior to that, she taught for 13 years, most recently in School Administrative District 50 in Thomaston.

Rollins will take over the assistant principal's job vacated by Hollicker at Farrington. Rollins has taught fourth grade at Gilbert Elementary School, in Augusta, since 2007. She previously taught in the Auburn school system.

Meserve was a literacy specialist, teacher, mentor and coach with SAD 52, which includes Turner, Leeds and Greene. She takes the place of Barbara Jordan, who retired this year after serving as curriculum coordinator in Augusta since 2002.

Also Wednesday, board members approved a quarter-credit adviser-advisee program at Cony High School. The program will meet every morning of school, with one adult adviser for every group of 12 to 15 students.

The goal of the adviser program, the policy states, is to provide students with a secure environment and access to information, with advisers serving as advocates for students and encouraging them to achieve their highest potential.

S. Nash Callahan, student representative to the board, said some students he talked to, while supportive of the program being worth a quarter credit, don't feel some of the proposed adviser-advisee activities are the best way for them to spend their time in school.

He specifically cited a "rock, paper, scissors" tournament, which is listed as one of numerous adviser-advisee activities scheduled to take place during the school year.

He said some students would prefer to use that time to do homework.

Principal James Anastasio said while all the activities are not "set in stone," the committee that planned the activities did so based upon research and best practices in other adviser-advisee programs.

Board member Richard Barnes said he was impressed with the activities the committee came up with, especially plans for students to take the Myers Briggs personality-type test.

Barnes and board member Nathanael Rende said the adviser-advisee program can help students both in school and with other aspects of their lives and relationships.

The adviser-advisee time was not intended as a chance for students to catch up on homework assignments, Rende noted.

"I don't see where it will be that invasive," Barnes said. "My suggestion would be to try it."

Keith Edwards -- 621-5647

kedwards@centralmaine.com