MATTAPOISETT — After being without a business administrator since October, the Old Rochester Regional School District hired Paul Kitchen on Thursday to fill the vacant position. 

Kitchen, 54, will begin his position on January 7. He replaces Patrick Spencer, who passed away on Oct. 1 after serving the school for more than four years. 

Kitchen will be leaving his business manager position at Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School, where he served for about two years. 

“He brings a wealth of experience to the district; not only around budgets but also buildings, state reporting, revenue production, facility management, food service oversight, and student transportation,” said Doug White, Old Rochester Regional School District superintendent. “His collaborative style will be greatly appreciated in the district.”

Before his work at New Bedford, Kitchen served in business management roles at Fairhaven Public Schools, Freetown-Lakeville school district and at the Fall River schools.

He has earned a master’s degree in finance and holds a law degree. He has also worked as an assistant district attorney in the Bristol County District Attorney’s office.