Edgecomb Selectman Michael Maxim dropped by to say "Hello" Nov. 19 to the school committee meeting. Maxim wanted to introduce himself to the school committee with budget season on the horizon. "I just wanted to take the time to reach out and welcome you all," he said.

Maxim apologized that his fellow board members, Lynn Norgang and George Chase, couldn't attend due to previous commitments. Maxim also wanted to create a positive dialogue between the two boards.

The selectboard has members all with less than two years' experience and the school committee has two members in their first year. So Maxim wanted to turn the page on past turbulent budget negotiations with a fresh approach beginning with an introduction. Despite a goal of a new beginning, it was an awkward start for the two boards. In August, the school committee was caught off-guard by an Aug. 15 Boothbay Register article which detailed concerns about the school budget by selectmen and residents. 

During the school committee's first meeting of the school year, the committee drafted eight questions seeking clarification on the selectboard's concerns. On Nov. 19, Maxim told the school committee his board was still drafting responses to those eight questions and he looked forward to a positive budget season. "The number one reason I came is we haven't had a lot of one-on-one contact, and I'm happy to be here to begin what I hope is a positive line of communication," he said. 

Four Edgecomb and one Boothbay Harbor resident attended the meeting. Dr. Kathryn Rohr, Ed and Barbara Hamilton and Cynthia Marsh, all from Edgecomb, along with Tom Perkins, were present. None of the residents spoke even though the school committee received a letter from concerned citizens' about the school budget.

Superintendent Robert Kahler told citizens the committee received the letter which included topics about bus mileage and creation of a capital reserve account. "We are working on a written response, as you requested, and should respond in a few days," he said. 

Committee Chairman Heather Sinclair reported the capital reserve account is a budget priority along with repaving the driveway. 

In other action, Kahler described the school's tuition policy for incoming and outgoing students. He reported the state sets tuition rates based on the past two years of a school's operating expenses. For tuition paying students to Edgecomb Eddy, the rate is $15,974.63. Edgecomb sends the majority of grade 7-12 students to Boothbay Harbor. The school committee pays $13,312 per student.

The committee also received an update on Edgecomb's students in special education. Director Julie Hansbury reported 14 students received special services. One Edgecomb Eddy student is tutioned to another school. Two are tuitioned to Boothbay Region Elementary School and 12 more at the high school. 

The committee tabled 14 proposed policy revisions for second read and nine for first read. The meeting ended with two executive sessions. Both involved separate labor negotiations with Edgecomb Education Association and Edgecomb Support Professionals Association. 

The committee meets next at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 17 in the school cafeteria.