With enrollment down 25 students from August’s 397, Wiscasset Superintendent of Schools Kim Andersson Sept. 10 detailed the drop and said the newer numbers are likely more reliable. Andersson and the school committee also continued eying how they might track why a student leaves. Member Jonathan Barnes raised that idea last month. 

Sept. 10 in the Wiscasset Middle High School library and over Zoom, Andersson said the numbers change when students move to or out of town or change to or from homeschooling; or, by superintendent agreement, attend another district; or they might “unenroll,” meaning they leave Wiscasset schools and do not enroll elsewhere, as one did in the latest numbers; Andersson called that “pretty devastating … the last thing I wanted to see.”

WMHS Principal Sarah Hubert noted at another point, the student has a plan, and students old enough sometimes unenroll because it aligns with their military or other career or life goals or situations. Those students or their families fill out a form and they talk with guidance staff, Hubert said. 

As of Sept. 6 when Andersson said she was putting the enrollment numbers into her report, Wiscasset Elementary School was down 10 students from August, to 168; and WMHS went from 219 to 204. 

Four students transferred to WES, two who moved to town and two who had been homeschooled; Andersson said 19 students transferred out of WES, 14 because they moved away and five switched to homeschool.

At WMHS, 21 transferred in – 10 because they moved here and the other 11 by superintendent agreements; and Andersson said 40 left –  mostly due to moving, others changing to homeschool or another district, and one to the Job Corps, plus the student who unenrolled.

In her written and oral reports, Andersson told the committee the latest numbers are “accurate,” the earlier ones, maybe not. She wrote, “mid-August enrollment numbers are typically not accurate because many school secretaries are away throughout the summer and therefore during the last week of August and the first week of September a lot of students shift in and shift out of school districts.”

As they did last month, school committee members voiced interest in knowing more from families, such as why they went to homeschooling. Ideas included a survey they said might not get 100% participation, but could help confirm some reasons. Andersson added, she knew the vaccination law factored into one student’s move to homeschooling. Andersson said she also has a sense, anecdotally, at least three families “left because they’re dissatisfied with me and with education here.” She told the committee she can invite those families to talk with her and she can report back to the committee with those findings.

Also Sept. 12, participants discussed how the schools are now handling the matter of students coming to school with cell phones. High schoolers can only have them out at lunch, and middle schoolers can’t have them out, Hubert said.

One student’s phone was placed in a bag, stapled, with their name on it, so they could see the phone was there, but not use it, Hubert said. In the meeting and a phone interview, she said high schoolers have liked limiting the use to lunchtime. 

Participants eyed pros and cons of students’ having their cell phones in a school emergency, including parents’ ability to reach their children, and the prospect of a scared child using their phone, making a sound instead of staying silent for their and others’ safety. School Committee Chair Jason Putnam said the policy committee will continue work on the policy based on the night’s comments. 

Officials reported the schools are now fully staffed. The latest hires include, at WMHS, Lisa Austin in Accelerated Learning; Tim Fortier, extended learning opportunities coordinator; Gabrianna Bailey, attendance secretary; Christina Morley, Aspirations teacher; and Xantha Morse, educational technician III; and at WES, Rebecca Falbo, teacher of the deaf. Andersson praised WES Principal Stacey Clements’ arranging with Head Start for it to provide a PreK ed tech “on their dime”; and praised both schools’ administrators for a smooth start to the school year. “You’re just crushing it.” 

Andersson praised John Merry, facilities and transportation director, and others for the change to releasing WMHS’s walkers, picked up students and student drivers several minutes before buses arrive. This is smoother and safer, she said. 

Mid Coast – Parkview Health – LincolnHealth Community Health Improvement Fund is helping WMHS’ middle and high school outing clubs, Hubert said. She told the committee she had just learned of the $28,500 in funds. According to a press release Hubert shared, the Fund is “dedicated to making a meaningful impact in LincolnHealth and Mid Coast–Parkview Health service areas … A committee of diverse representatives evaluates many factors, including community health needs and how the funds will improve the social drivers of health. Whatever is chosen must align with the MaineHealth vision of working together so the communities are the healthiest in America.”

The school committee nodded Andersson’s offer to start live-streaming its meetings on the department’s YouTube channel and having the recordings available on the channel also. In response to committee concern about the possibility of confidential student or staff information being blurted out, Andersson said that can be edited out of the recording. Barnes said restating public comment guidelines every so often could also help.