The Wiscasset School Committee on July 28 made Michael Dunn its chairman and Glen Craig vice chairman. Both have served on the committee since it first met in 2014.

Outgoing vice chairman Eugene Stover did not raise his hand during the vote in favor of Craig for vice chairman. Reporters asked him about it after the meeting. “I voted no,” Stover said. “I have my reasons.” He declined to elaborate.

The election of officers had a light note as Superintendent of Schools Heather Wilmot added the chairman title to Dunn’s nameplate. “Don’t let it go to your head, Mike,” fellow member Chelsea Haggett said, drawing laughs in the Wiscasset Middle High School library.

“Bear with me,” Dunn said.

The last chairman, Steve Smith, did not seek another term on the committee. Voters elected Jason Putnam in June. The July 28 meeting was his first one as a member.

It was also the first for the department’s new athletic director-assistant principal, Mandy Lewis. Wilmot welcomed her with the same honor the superintendent received when she was hired: the gift of a Wolverines hoodie.

Lewis’ wife Amy and their toddler son were in the audience for the presentation. “Do they make baby hoodies,” Haggett commented, smiling.

The department is very excited to have Lewis in the school community and on the leadership team, Wilmot said.

Several other hires have been made over the summer. According to an email from Administrative Assistant Stacey Souza, Elizabeth Hemdal will be a health education teacher at WMHS and Charles Stambach, a special education teacher in WMHS’ resource room. At Wiscasset Elementary School, Kirsten Perry will be a literacy coach, Catherine Malloy a kindergarten teacher, and Emily Robinson a fourth grade teacher.

Wilmot said retiring WMHS technology education teacher Rob Cronk couldn’t attend but that a gift honoring his many years of service has been prepared. If he cannot be at the August meeting, it will be presented to him at another time on the committee’s behalf, she said.

Cronk’s retirement is a huge loss, Haggett said. “He was my favorite teacher I ever had, and probably one of the best we’ve ever had, as far as how much he cared. And still when I see him he’s genuinely interested in my life.”

 More playground damage

The panel agreed to have Wilmot and Transportation and Maintenance Director John Merry come up with options for it to consider, to aid after-hours security at the WES playground. A vandalism incident during the school year forced the replacement of a slide, and damage has now been found on part of the playground’s surface, Wilmot said.

 “We’re at the second incident,” she said.

A warranty covered the slide’s replacement; the playground company, Maine Recreation & Design of Brunswick, has been excellent to work with and will try to use leftover material when it patches the surface, to avoid charging the school department for the repair, Wilmot said in the meeting and an email response July 29.

Haggett wondered if it was possible to lock the new fence separating the parking lot and playground. But Merry said it’s only four feet tall. “(It) could never keep anybody out.”

Wilmot said she’ll present as many options as possible. “We just want to make sure everything is well cared for, because that’s important.”

“I think it’s a good idea,” Haggett said. “It’s just figuring out what’s cost-effective.”

The committee meets next at 6 p.m. Aug. 25 in the WMHS library, Wilmot said.