Wiscasset Elementary School Principal Kathleen Pastore sees a bigger concern than being down a half-time assistant principal after Laura Mewa resigned. Pastore told the school committee July 12, the more pressing need is for a full-time school counselor.

In the meeting at Wiscasset Middle High School’s library and on Zoom, and in a phone interview July 14, Pastore based that assessment on students’ needs. A full-time counselor will have more time for children, and will have time to serve more children, than if the job Mewa held stays half counselor, half assistant principal, she told Wiscasset Newspaper. Pastore added, she previously served a school of 500 with no assistant principal, so she is confident she can manage at WES without one. 

“It’ll be more work for me, but I’m ready to take that on because I think I really have to (go by) what our students need more,” she said. WES will still have a second counselor three days a week, she said. 

Pastore’s comments come as the school department continues efforts to fill jobs, including at WES, a special education teacher and, Pastore said, a new opening for a Title One teacher after an “outstanding” one of 10 years, Sharon Stevens, resigned. WMHS Principal Charles Lomonte said its two “big” vacancies are for a health teacher and a middle school science teacher. And Transportation and Maintenance Director John Merry’s July report states double bus runs are being looked at as an option for 2022-23 if driver jobs can’t be filled.

The committee nodded the hires of Diane Hammond, for finance manager; Cameron Bishop, half-time athletic director; Isaac Edmondson, half-time high school social studies teacher and half-time educational technician III; and Erin Garey, WMHS social worker. And the panel accepted with regret Stevens’ resignation.

Lomonte recognized incoming senior Bryan Gagnon, heading to USA Track & Field (USATF) National Junior Olympic Championships later this month in Sacramento, California. “He’s a wonderful young man, and I’m just so proud ... We really applaud you, Bryan, and I want to wish you the best of luck in your endeavors.” Coach Josiah Winchenbach and Gagnon and his family are funding the trip, Lomonte said. To help, visit WMHS’ main office, he said. Fellow Wiscasset Parks and Recreation athlete David Winchenbach will also compete, Coach Winchenbach and WMHS Assistant Principal Warren Cossette shared in emails to Wiscasset Newspaper.

The July 12 meeting was the first since Wiscasset voters picked Jodi Hardwick for the seat the committee’s chair Michael Dunn did not seek to keep. The committee moved longtime and newly re-elected member Jason Putnam from vice chair to chair, and made another longtime member, Michelle Blagdon, vice chair. Putnam hoped for a safe school year and predicted a great one. 

And it was Interim Superintendent of Schools Robert “Bob” England Jr.’s first meeting with the committee since he took over from Terry Wood. England said he has been meeting people and getting the lay of the land, and would like a workshop to get guidance from the committee. 

England also cited an early concern, for Wiscasset and school departments everywhere: Schools’ free and reduced meal data determines local socio-economic status for federal funds, but meals’ having been free for all students in recent years “creates a culture of, ‘Why should I fill (the form) out?’” and if parents do not, he said, “It’s going to impact us.” It’s imperative they do, he said. “I’m really concerned about that.”

“(The) applications (are) critical for everyone to fill out,” Food Service Director Lorie Johnson states in her July report.