Stripped, sealed and waxed are Wiscasset Middle High School’s tile floors, WMHS Head Custodian Daniel “Dan” Lincoln said as he and custodian Debbie Gagnon showed Wiscasset Newspaper around Friday. “We really want it to look good for the students, and the public,” Lincoln said. Principal Charles Lomonte said he was tickled pink with the results.

Lincoln and Gagnon said the custodial staff there and at Wiscasset Elementary School have been working hard readying for the new school year Sept. 6.

According to interviews by phone, email and in-person last week, so have administrators and other employees – from honoring veteran staff to helping ensure the middle and high schools have their own identities.

Interim Superintendent of Schools Robert “Bob” England Jr. explained, “This year we have essentially three schools like (in) Wiscasset's history. The elementary school (WES), and WMHS, (which) is essentially two schools within one building now: WHS (grades) 9-12 and WMS 6-8 with each having its own identity. Each school site’s staff are focused on how to meet each student’s educational need and experience.”

England cited a new goal for the whole school department: Wiscasset Educational Collective Efficacy (WECE). He said staff will work together weekly “to assess what each school, each teacher, each support staff needs to do to take each student from where they are ... and to support their academic, social and emotional development. We have a very committed and talented staff I am very proud to be working with, (and) with the collective focus of this incredible team we will reach our goal. Each student will reach their potential,” he added. England said staff worked last week on goals for the year and on safety protocols, “so all new and veteran staff are prepared.”