SOUTHWEST HARBOR — A 30-second standing ovation by residents at town meeting here Monday night left Rob Liebow, outgoing superintendent of the Mount Desert Island Regional School System (MDIRSS), visibly moved.

“I’d like to thank everybody from my heart,” he said.

Eric Henry, a longtime member of the Southwest Harbor school committee, praised Mr. Liebow as “a great superintendent.”

“He’s led us through good times and bad times with skill, understanding, patience, good cheer and, always, a commitment to the children and their education,” Mr. Henry said.

After eight years as superintendent, Mr. Liebow is leaving at the end of June to become superintendent of schools in Rockport, Mass.

But now, as he has done every spring, he is going to the town meetings in all eight towns in the MDI-area school district, to explain and answer questions about their elementary school budgets.

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