A Wiscasset father’s simple message for the school committee March 8 was made via a homemade sign. Doug Wyman’s message read “No more masks: Free the Smiles.” Wyman hoped the school committee would follow the Center for Disease Control’s new protocols which made indoor masking optional beginning March 9. The school committee voted 5-0 to adopt the new protocols after officials provided ample notification time to staff and families. 

Voluntary masking begins March 14. Superintendent of Schools Terry Wood recommended the additional five days so she could post the new protocols on the school’s website and send letters to families. Wyman made the sign in support of his son, an elementary student. Wyman believes masks have negatively impacted student learning and his son’s health. Following the meeting, he explained why he brought a homemade sign. “My son is sick of wearing a mask and I did it to support him. He wears a mask all day long in school then goes to the community center for ASA (Afterschool Adventures) at the community center, and doesn’t wear one. He hangs out with the same group of kids. It just doesn’t make any sense.”

The meeting was packed with students, parents and school staff. While the new policy is popular with students and parents, most staff favored keeping masking mandatory. Wood shared a staff survey with 52 respondents showing 62.3% favoring mandatory masking, 26.9% opposed, and 10% undecided. “Parents who want their children to remain in masks must contact the schools, but it’s not the staff’s responsibility to police this. There will be no discipline for not wearing a mask, and issues will be referred back to parents,” Wood said. 

Based on the updated March 2 CDC guidelines, voluntary masking will remain as long as another outbreak doesn’t occur. Wood read from the guidelines which stated if outbreaks reach 15% of students and staff then the mandatory indoor masking would return. 

Freshman Cooper Reed was one of about a dozen students who attended the board meeting. Reed was satisfied with the mandatory masking being lifted, but was disappointed it would take another five days. “I came because I don’t like wearing a mask. I didn’t speak because they ended it, but I wanted (masks) gone tomorrow (March 8),” he said. 

In other action, Athletic Director Warren Cossette reported grades 6-12 had the highest extracurricular participation rate since 2016. Those numbers should rise this spring as middle school softball and baseball return. There is also a high school cooperative agreement between Wiscasset and Boothbay for baseball and softball. Boothbay girls are eligible to play for the Wiscasset softball team. Wiscasset boys are eligible for the Boothbay baseball team. 

School officials announced first grade teacher Tracey Stover received a nomination for Lincoln County Teacher of the Year. Wiscasset Elementary School has a new administrative assistant. Pamela Kilburn replaces Cindy Collamore, who is now at the middle high school. The committee also received one resignation. High school math teacher Jenelle Lefebvre resigned.

The committee changed its next meeting date from April 12 to April 14.