The Wiscasset School Committee on Feb. 21 unanimously approved Gina Stevens as Wiscasset Middle High School’s interim principal for the rest of the school year. Principal Charles Lomonte’s resignation was announced at the committee’s Feb. 15 meeting.

Currently the department’s IEP (individual education plan) coordinator, Stevens has had many jobs in a K-12 system, she told committee members Feb. 21 as she addressed them in WMHS’s library after Interim Superintendent of Schools Robert “Bob” England Jr. brought her forth as a candidate.  Stevens has been a principal, assistant principal, interim superintendent, curriculum instruction coordinator, district testing coordinator, bilingual ESL director, instructional materials coordinator and secondary science teacher.

Growing up in a military family, Stevens said, "the expectation was set for me (that) if something needs to be done, do it.” She has lived in many places in the U.S, and internationally and completed both her undergraduate and graduate degrees at University of Texas, she told the committee.

“I appreciate the vote of confidence that my colleagues have expressed and I will do my best through actions to assist everyone working here to improve Wiscasset Middle High School,” Stevens said.

The committee approved the advertisement for WMHS principal for the 2023-2024 school year and decided on a timeline for the hiring process. The ad was to be posted Friday, Feb. 24 and applications will be accepted until March 24. The committee will review applications March 27-30 with interviews being held April 3-7. The interview committee will have three staff members, two students, two parents, England and Special Education Director Andrea Lovell.

WMHS Assistant Principal Warren Cossette told the school committee via Zoom, he plans to resign at the end of the school year. “At the end of the year, I love everybody more than you can ever imagine, but I will be done,” Cossette said.

After the meeting adjourned, England told reporters he had received nothing official regarding Cossette’s statement.

Also Feb. 21, the committee unanimously approved the new student dress code policy. WMHS student council members Madison Westrich and Bryan Gagnon were there in support of the new policy and to answer any questions. The students participated in the rewriting of the policy.

School committee member Michelle Blagdon announced she will not be running again; her term ends in June. Blagdon has served for six years and would like to enjoy her daughter’s last two years of high school, she told fellow members.