In Edgecomb, the select board has returned to in-person meetings with public attendance, and so has the planning board. Both boards did so this summer after deciding against continuing Zoom conferences for their monthly meetings. In April, the school committee began meeting in-person, but decided to allow public participation only through Zoom. On Aug. 2, Committee Chairman Heather Sinclair reported the board is waiting for the school reopening plan being discussed by school administrators before deciding about reopening the school to the general public.

“I’ve spoken to the other committee members on how to proceed, but the decision was mine to meet in-person with public participation through Zoom,” she said. “Our goal is to minimize public contact within the building prior to school starting.”

During the Aug. 2 meeting, Sinclair was joined by fellow committee members Nicole Price, Arthur Garey, Principal Christina Boursaw and Alternative Organizational Structure 98 Superintendent Robert Kahler. Participants sat at the same table and Price was the only one wearing a mask. Sinclair said the committee was following current Lincoln County guidelines regarding the pandemic. “Lincoln has not been identified as a high transmission rate territory. So I discussed it with the others and left it up to them whether to wear a mask.”

Kahler reported he was meeting with other AOS 98 administrators Aug. 3 toward developing a school reopening plan. The administrators are preparing for a safe reopening this fall for staff and students. “We may receive recommendations from the state, but I don’t think there will be any mandates. There is one federal mandate. Students are required to wear masks on buses,” he said.

The committee plans a special meeting at 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 30 to approve the reopening plan. In the fall, the committee may have a new remote participation policy. Under the state of emergency due to the coronavirus, Maine municipal and school boards were allowed to hold remote meetings. State law now allows for remote participation for elected officials. The school committee had its first reading of a new policy which would allow members to participate and vote remotely. “This would allow remote participation in special circumstances, and it must be done in a manner where the vote can be seen or heard. So you couldn’t vote in the comments,” she said.

In other action, the music job was increased from one day to a day and a half. In past years, the school combined classes to accommodate the music program’s one-day schedule. Classes were routinely in single digits, but this fall all the classes number in double digits. This fall’s expected enrollment is 130 which is the most ever, according to Boursaw. School officials want expanded hours for the music teacher to prepare for school festivals and performances. The committee also accepted resignations from educational technician III Christa Booth and physical education teacher Erin Michaud. Kahler announced three new hires: Brooke Chaney, educational technician III; Heather Chouinard, educational technician III; and Kelsey Knof, bus driver and educational technician I.

The meeting ended with an executive session discussing negotiations with the school’s support staff. Kahler reported no action was taken following the session.