The Edgecomb School Committee has filled a vacancy created by former member George Chase’s resignation in April. The committee voted May 7, 2-0, to appoint Cod Cove Farm Road resident Jesse White as a new member. White  moved his family to Edgecomb in 2020 from Plainville, Massachusetts. He works in the diagnostic technology field at EnviroLogix, Inc. in Portland. “I told Tom (Principal Landberg) if he needed anything done to let me know. A spot opened up a couple weeks ago, and he asked me if I would serve on the committee.”

White was active in Plainville, Massachusetts local government. He served as chairman for the municipal finance and permanent building committees. 

School Committee Chairman Heather Sinclair said White’s work as a school volunteer was a major factor in his appointment. “We had a lot of great people show interest in the position and I want to thank them for their interest. But none had any direct connection to the school or participated at any past meetings,” she said. “I enthusiastically second this nomination for Jesse. We are lucky to have someone who participated in the past and look forward to his participation on the board.”

White will serve Chase’s final year of the three-year term. Another new member will join the committee later this month. Nichole Price’s term expires May 17. She served one term, and decided not to seek another. Sinclair thanked Price for her three years of service. “I want to acknowledge the work you’ve done, voice you brought and the wisdom you have shared from other perspectives,” she said. 

In other action, the committee approved the sixth grade’s class trip to Boston. The class will spend two days in Boston, May 30-31. Fourth grade teacher Kate Race planned the trip and decided to part from the traditional one-day visit. “I thought it would be better for an overnight stay instead of departing at 7 a.m. and returning home at midnight,” she said. Sixth graders and staff will spend the night at Boston University which includes breakfast and dinner. 

The university is walking distance to Fenway Park. The trip includes tickets to the Boston Red Sox game versus the Detroit Tigers at 7:10 p.m. May 30. The class departs Brunswick by train at 7 a.m. and arrives at North Station at 10:40 a.m. Students will have lunch at Quincy Market and proceed to New England Aquarium. The next stop will be a Duck Boat tour from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. May 30 is also Graduation Night at Fenway Park. Race told the committee nine of Edgecomb’s graduates will receive a free T-shirt.

Day two begins at the Museum of Science. Students will view a 50-minute movie on deep space. The tour proceeds to Quincy Market for lunch followed by a private tour of the Freedom Trail from 2:30 to 4 p.m. The class trip ends with a train ride back to Brunswick. Race estimates they will return to Edgecomb around 8:40 p.m.

The committee voted, 2-0, to approve Landberg’s contract as building principal for 2024-25 and extend it to 2025-26 with a negotiated raise. The committee also approved continuing teaching contracts for Heather Chouinard, Laurie Brown and Elaine Walsh. The committee approved second-year probationary contracts for Liz Giles Brown, Gary Upham, Kate Race and Ryan Patrie.

Sinclair plans on scheduling a late June meeting.