Wiscasset Superintendent of Schools Terry Wood reported to the school committee Nov. 10, enrollment is down 70 students on the year. This decline is due to a number of factors including those parents who have chosen to homeschool their children, those who have chosen private schools due to the pandemic, and others who have moved.

Between the two schools, currently 87 students are fully remote and with the end of the quarter and trimester, students may have the opportunity to shift to the fully remote or hybrid options. Committee member Desiree Bailey congratulated Wood on making it through the first part of the year, saying “We did it, we’re here, congratulations!” and she presented flowers to Wood.

Wood also noted that the budget process for 2021 will start in December and the state has changed testing to the NWEAs which she said their teachers were already familiar with.

Former Wiscasset superintendent Wayne Dorr, now student services coordinator for Bath Regional Career and Technical Center, presented five Wiscasset Middle High School students who have been inducted into the National Technical Honor Society. He noted this was particularly significant given that five of the seven total inductees were from Wiscasset. Dorr said the five “have demonstrated diligence, character, and success in career and technical education. They exemplify the qualities which describe (an honor society) member.” The inductees were Paige Davenport and Brooke Thayer from the health science careers program, Brett Osmond and Nathan Gilliam from the automotive technology program, and Mercedes Williams from the graphic design program.

Dorr added, “when I consider all of the trials and growing pains of a nation, and the hopes and dreams of those who wish to make it better than we found it, I am comforted by knowing that we will be turning the world over to young people like Paige, Brooke, Nathan, Brett and Mercedes.”

During her superintendent’s report, Wood noted longtime custodian David Chase has died. Chase had been with the department since August 1992. Wood said, “I will never forget him. He said he had a crush on redheads, so I was his favorite superintendent ... He will be greatly missed.”

In administrator updates, Special Education Director Ken Spinney thanked his staff.  He said he was very proud of his case managers during these challenging times.

The committee meets next on Dec. 8.