Draft residency verification forms were passed out to Edgecomb Eddy school committee members and Alternative Organizational Structure (AOS) 98 officials Jan. 10. The contents of the form were gathered together from examples from other communities. “We may be looking at tuition increases, and we want to insure that families can establish that their child lives here in the community,” said Dean of Students Lisa Clarke.

Committee member Sarah Clifford asked, “If you're paying property taxes to the town, but you don't live here, you have to pay tuition?” 

“Some people believe that's the letter of the law, but it's not. Residency refers to where the child in question resides,” said Clarke. The draft form states that it will be mandatory to provide AOS 98 with a residency form, which can be obtained from the local town office. As the form stands now, if parents are divorced, custody information regarding residency of the child will also be mandatory.

Clifford asked if everyone would be required to fill out the forms, or if the forms would be used when there was a question. 

“Everybody. Right now, when someone comes in to register a child, there's a registry form. When residency has come into question, we can request certain information, but I would prefer it be uniform,” said Clarke.

After school officials decide on a final draft, Edgecomb town officials will be asked to look it over for additions or changes that would affect them.

Other items on the meeting’s agenda included the news that Allison Carbone-Crocker will be student-teaching at the fourth, fifth, and sixth grade levels. She will be working with Edgecomb Eddy teacher Julie Higgins. Carbone-Crocker grew up in the Boothbay area and graduated from BRHS. She is in her fourth year at the University of Maine at Farmington. “She'll be here full time, going through the observation process and working her way into taking over classes, planning lessons, and running classes,” said Clarke.

AOS 98 Superintendent Eileen King presented a cash flow analysis to the board. “As of Dec. 31 we have 54 percent remaining. December expenses were: $188,699. We have $1,434,994 remaining. Our year-to-date expenses were $1,228,101. Our spending track is right where we want it to be,” she said.

A potluck supper is planned for Friday, Jan. 27, from 5 to 7 p.m. “We're hoping that we have good sledding,” said Clarke. A school-wide spelling bee is planned for Jan. 30. A geography bee is also in the planning stages for grades four through six.

An executive session was called for negotiations. The next school committee meeting is Feb. 7 at Edgecomb Eddy School at 5:30 p.m.