When school starts on Sept. 7, Edgecomb Eddy School will require masks and social distancing as part of its reopening plan. On Aug. 18, the school committee unanimously adopted a plan based heavily on Maine Center for Disease Control and state Department of Education guidelines. The plan allows school administrators to adjust guidelines as pandemic levels change between the green, yellow and red warning designations.

The plan calls for face coverings for both staff and students. A federal law also requires masks for students on school buses. The plan also asks parents to monitor students’ health and keep them home if any symptoms appear. While masks are required for in-person learning, vaccinations are not. Alternative Organizational Structure 98 Superintendent Robert Kahler reported the only requirement is schools must report the percentage of staff who have received a vaccination. “There is no requirement for students,” he said. “As far as staff, we are required to track the number, and report it on our website. We will probably do this through some kind of Google survey.”

School lunch tables will be spaced for appropriate social distancing with each grade eating together. Students will also have assigned meal seats.  On the playground, students in different grades will be allowed to play with one another. Also, school volunteers will be allowed.  Kahler recommended volunteers wait until the students and staff adjust to the new school year. Field trips and public school gatherings are allowed, but limited based on current coronavirus transmission numbers. Water fountains won’t be used so students and staff are advised to bring their own water bottles.

A second maintenance person was hired through coronavirus stimulus funds. Kahler reported the job is funded for two years. Chairman Heather Sinclair described the draft policy as one which met the school committee’s goals of in-person learning and safety. “Since June, we’ve heard how important in-person learning is for our students. We’ve had a year to mitigate the risks, and put together the best possible plan for in-person learning and safety,” she said. “I also like that the plan gives administrators the flexibility to make changes.”

The school committee is also hoping to return to public meetings in September. In April, the school committee began meeting in-person, but decided to allow public participation only through Zoom. Sinclair will take a closer look at Lincoln County transmission rates to see if allowing public attendance is viable. “Getting back to a question from the last meeting, we are looking at allowing the public to participate in person. I think public participation is an important aspect of what we do,” she said.

In other business, the committee unanimously adopted a remote participation plan geared toward greater future public participation. For those who want to participate through Zoom, Sinclair announced future electronic agendas would have hyperlinks available for participants to access documents discussed during meetings. For committee members, the new policy allows participation and voting  in “extenuating circumstances” such as an injury or illness.

Principal Christina Boursaw announced three new educational technician III hirings. Dan Parrott will work in the special education classroom. Erika Landry will work in the kindergarten class which has 21 students this fall. Amanda Scott will work in the pre-kindergarten classroom.

The meeting ended with an executive session discussing negotiations with support staff. The committee meets next at 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 13.