Efforts to explore a new regional high school on the Boothbay peninsula are facing barriers. Alternative Organizational Structure (AOS) 98 Long Range Planning Committee co-chair Kelly James said during the committee’s Nov. 2 meeting, the option for a new regional school in Edgecomb is not likely going to happen. James said she personally thought the option is off the table because Edgecomb officials have not said they want it. 

“I know we formed this committee thinking we would go down that road more, but that road has kind of hit a dead end,” James said. “I think we’ve done what we could, and I think we’ve all done our due diligence of high school building location, prior to even being on this committee.”   

“Regionalization” is often used to describe consolidation, but it also refers to a specific regional school unit (RSU) structure. As reported in the Register, there has been much talk of school consolidation in the region, and a large piece of property recently for sale near the Boothbay-Edgecomb line generated interest in the possibility of a regional school. Edgecomb Selectboard Chair Mike Smith alerted AOS 98 Superintendent Robert Kahler to the property and its potential, but it had been sold by the end of July. 

Kahler said he has received repeated calls and assertions from a few citizens that Edgecomb was willing and eager to have a regional high school built. However, the town’s selectmen have not accepted invitations to participate in discussions with the committee, an advisory group set up to explore educational opportunities across the AOS 98 region and Wiscasset area.  

Smith told the Register the board had been invited to join discussions with the committee, but they have decided to wait until the Nov. 7 referendum to weigh in. He said they thought it would be most fair to the school officials and other people who have spent the time preparing for the vote to see what direction the townspeople want to go. However, he said he was personally interested in having a conversation about regionalization later.  

“I think the opportunity is there. But I think that the discussion needs to happen justly, fairly, and I don't think that can happen until there's a decision made tomorrow,” he said. “Tomorrow is going to be a historic vote for the harbor …, but Edgecomb doesn't need to venture an opinion in yet.” 

There are other hurdles for a potential regional school beyond communication. Smith also said the town recently finished paying for Edgecomb Eddy School and has no interest in funding another school soon. In addition, Edgecomb residents have school choice and receive tuition funds for their older students, which many think is a taxpayer incentive to keep their current structure.  

During the meeting, Long Range Planning Committee members also questioned whether there were enough students in the region to justify moving the school. James said it would be a hard sell for taxpayers in her district, Georgetown. In the committee's September meeting, the Georgetown school board chair also said the town will not likely be part of regionalization simply because of geography. According to officials, a regional school would also require significant structural change that would need voter buy-in from all participating towns. 

Committee members will still explore other cost-sharing and collaborative options. At the November meeting, they discussed efforts including adult and alternative education, technology and transportation. James said everything is being considered, even regionalization, if the time is right and the will is there.  

“We're just trying to make sure that honestly, every option is on the table,” she said. “If Edgecomb walks back into a Long Range Planning Committee ... and they want to talk about something, absolutely we're going to have a discussion. But you can't have a discussion one-sided.”