Nearly 100 students may populate Edgecomb Eddy School next fall. The pre-kindergarten through grade six school finished with 87 students this year and Principal Ira Michaud announced during the June 18 school committee meeting, attendance would likely increase.

“We’re looking at possibly 98 students when school returns this fall. Our agreement with Westport and Alna continues to draw students, and more families with young children have moved into town. It looks like we’re in very good shape,” he said.

Last spring, the enrollment forecast wasn’t as rosy. School officials projected 59 students for the then-kindergarten through grade six school. But a new pre-kindergarten program — which filled all 15 allotted slots this year – and a tuition agreement with Alna and Westport Island resulted in nine more tuition students. The school reached 89 students at one point this year – a record for the 16-year-old building.

School officials plan on continuing a dialog with both Westport Island and Alna town officials this summer. School committee members and Michaud met with Alna selectmen last summer and plan to meet with them again and Westport Island selectmen, too. “I thought the meeting with Alna last year went well,” said committee chairman Tom Abello. “We planned on meeting with Westport last summer, but couldn’t schedule a time. I think it would be a good idea to visit with them as well.””

The committee would also like a visit this summer from Dr. Keith Laser, Alternative Organization Structure 98’s new superintendent. Laser replaces interim superintendent Bob Webster who exits on June 29. The committee discussed adding a summer meeting or inviting Laser to the Parent Teacher Conference's August barbecue.

Abello thanked Webster for his service. The chairman recalled at many school functions he heard compliments about Webster’s work. “It seems everywhere I go around the district I hear what a great job you’re doing. I want to thank you for all you’ve done for us,” Abello said.

Michaud also thanked Webster for assisting in his first year as a school principal. “We've probably done a lot of learning together,” he said. “I probably called you more than other principals, but you really helped me out, and I wanted to thank you."

In other action, the committee unanimously approved a probationary one-half teaching position contract for Michelle Stack, who worked at the school this year as an educational technician. School officials will now seek to fill the vacated ed tech position.

The committee extended Michaud’s contract for three years, through June 30, 2021. The contract included a 2.5 percent pay raise. The committee re-appointed longtime truant officer Robert Leone for another year. The appointment started a discussion about what a truant officer does. Michaud explained there wasn’t typically much contact with a truant officer.

“He only gets involved for students above age 7, and then, in most cases, problems are typically handled by a school official with a face-to-face conversation with parents about why a student is missing school,” Michaud said.

The committee approved an updated student wellness policy. The previous one was adopted in 1980. Maine School Management's review of the cafeteria this year resulted in a recommendation to update the plan.

The committee meets next at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 10 at the school.