Dresden has again expressed an interest in possibly sending its students to Wiscasset schools. Wiscasset Superintendent of Schools. Kim Andersson told the school committee Tuesday, Sept. 12, she met recently with a newly formed exploratory committee. Dresden has its own K-grade five elementary school on Cedar Grove Road and had 72 students in the 2022-23 school year, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

Andersson said Dresden sends its grade six through 12 students to Hall-Dale Elementary and Hall-Dale High School in Hallowell. “They wanted to know if they are able to withdraw from (Regional School Unit) RSU 2 was there any interest here in having them rejoin Wiscasset,” she said. Dresden last tuitioned students to Wiscasset in 1998; 10 years ago, the town became part of RSU 2 that included Hallowell, Monmouth and Richmond. Richmond withdrew in 2022. Andersson said going forward discussions would include the committee looking into the future of Wiscasset schools.

Wiscasset Newspaper asked Andersson via email Sept. 13, what grade levels Dresden officials are considering tuitioning to Wiscasset schools. Responding Sept. 14, Andersson wrote, “Dresden, like Wiscasset and some towns in (Alternative Organizational Structure) AOS 98, including Boothbay and Edgecomb, are exploring ideas and opportunities for public education in their future. On Aug. 18, I met with Leah Bickford, chair of the Dresden Education Exploratory Committee, and two other committee members to talk about future possibilities that exist between our two towns. We talked about several ideas including: ‘Creating a new school union with both of our towns that could maintain their elementary school as a part of the new school administrative unit; accepting their students as school of record in case they became a school choice town; looking into building a new Regional Vocational and Technical School in Wiscasset that could potentially fill gaps in offerings at Bath (voc-tech) and Cony (High) schools,” she wrote. Cony is in Augusta.

Before Dresden can send its students to Wiscasset schools, “They would need to go through the withdrawal process from RSU 2,”  wrote Andersson. She was unsure how long the withdrawal process would take. In another matter, Andersson noted she and the Wiscasset school committee have been invited to the AOS 98 Long Range Educational Planning Committee meeting on (Sept. 26) to listen to their discussion on future plans for AOS towns including Edgecomb and Boothbay.

In her monthly report Andersson noted Cindy Collamore will be moving from WMHS administrative assistant to become the full-time assistant at the superintendent’s office.

Andersson said the first week of school created challenges due to unusually high temperatures and humidity. Temperatures on the upper floors of the elementary and high schools reached 83F to 86F. Due to the heat, school officials dismissed students at 11:30 on Friday, Sept. 8. Andersson talked with John Merry, facilities director, about the need for creating cooling centers within the schools.

Wiscasset principals shared their opening day enrollment figures. Gina Stevens said there are 232 students at Wiscasset Middle High School, about the same number as last year. On the first day of classes there were 25 sixth graders, 34 seventh graders and 31 eighth graders. The high school had 38 freshmen, 32 sophomores, 48 juniors and 24 seniors. In her monthly report, Stevens stated 20 more security cameras have been added at WMHS. The new cameras can be viewed on mobile devices; the school’s 10 existing cameras are linked to monitors in the school resource officer (SRO) and front offices.

Principal Amy Bayha said there are 188 students enrolled at the elementary school. The three largest classes are in first, second and third grades with 35, 37 and 36 students. There are 26 students in fifth grade, and 20 students in grade four. There are 23 kindergarten students and 11 children enrolled in pre-K.

Bayha said that over the summer fourth grade teacher Becky Hallowell presented at the Maine Math and Science Alliance Conference. She also briefed the school committee on the benefits of incorporating the services of a therapy dog at the elementary school. Bayha said she is a certified therapy dog owner. “They can really make a difference in the lives of children,” she continued, adding it did not need to be her therapy dog at school. “It’s just something for you to consider,” she said.

Bayha was asked if parents would need to sign a permission form to make use of a therapy dog. She said that would depend on the school committee, and parents and staff could opt out if they chose to. The committee wanted to consider the matter further before deciding.

Andrea Lovell, director of special services, welcomed Lindsay Larrabee and Mindy Turner to the high school’s Aspirations program. “Lindsay has worked in our district for many years and brings excellent experience to our behavioral support program at the high school,” wrote Lovell in her monthly report. She said Turner, who is returning to WMHS, “brings excellent experience back to the program.”

The committee agreed to allow members of the senior class to have their own designated parking space in the small lot overlooking the softball field. Grace Greene and Linnea Andersson, both members of the Class of 2024, provided a power point presentation pitching the idea. After getting approval of their design, students can paint their parking space any way they want to provided they adhere to appropriate decorum as stated in the student handbook. Seniors are restricted to water-based paints. Spray paints are not allowed.

New hires approved by the committee included Bethany Robinson, WMHS administrative assistant, and Pam Freeman for the WES Support Center.

Residents will be allowed to continue playing pickle ball on the high school’s tennis courts during school hours. School officials plan to revise the policy concerning community use of school grounds including the athletic field and track when school is in session.