Straw question eyed on exploring regional high school idea
Wiscasset selectmen July 21 were set to consider asking voters in November this non-binding referendum question: "Should Wiscasset explore the possibility of a single regional high school serving students from multiple area towns?"
Wiscasset Selectman Sarah Whitfield took part in an advisory working group that helped on Wiscasset School Department's and Boothbay Region Schools' application last year to Maine Department of Education for a consolidated grades nine through 16 school. According to Boothbay Register and Wiscasset Newspaper files, Wiscasset and Boothbay Region Schools stopped their try at that state grant for a consolidated school after learning a win was unlikely. In March, Wiscasset Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kim Andersson said the state's evaluation team for a regional "nine through 16" school told her and Alternative Organizational Structure 98 Superintendent of Schools Robert Kahler, a critical piece some other applicants had that the two districts did not, was a career and technical education (CTE) school as a partner.
Whitfield told Wiscasset Newspaper Monday, she requested the agenda item after working group members' recent consensus "that we hope this question will go on the Wiscasset ballot and hope a similar one will go on the Boothbay ballot. Since I'm a selectman, I volunteered to introduce it."
In his report released ahead of Tuesday's meeting, Wiscasset Town Manager Dennis Simmons said if the board agreed July 21 to put the non-binding question on the Nov. 3 ballot, he would draft an order for approval at the board's next meeting.
The July 21 meeting is at 6 p.m. at the town office and on Zoom and the town office's YouTube channel. Find the Zoom link with the agenda at wiscasset.gov
And look for results at wiscassetnewspaper.com and in the July 30 print edition.
