A change in administration at a Wiscasset school or the department is usually not huge news.

These days, as in other careers, both public and private sector, people do not tend to stay as long. The gold watch years are largely gone. That is too bad, in many respects; but for some, one job leads to another that pays more or is where the person wants to work or live or is nearer family or nearer a spouse’s job, etc.

Stories of Wiscasset school administrators’ hires and departures have not tended to light up wiscassetnewspaper.com with “views,” that is, people clicking onto the story. When Wiscasset Elementary’s principal of two years, Stacy White, resigned to become principal of a Falmouth school, that May 2019 story garnered 1,250 views; WMHS Principal Charles Lomonte’s resignation earlier this year, 2,253 views; WMHS Principal Peg Armstrong’s 2018 resignation to become an interim superintendent at School Administrative District 75 got 1,160 views; and Deb Taylor’s 2014 resignation as WMHS principal to coordinate Sheepscot Valley Regional School Unit’s technology and curriculum, 953. 

The first report, posted Oct. 31, of WMHS Principal Gina Stevens’ being placed on paid administrative leave got 47,299 views; a related story on 17 students’ walkout, 11,184; and other updates, thousands of views each. The difference, in part, is this was not a “person moving on, resignation, Wiscasset will need to advertise for another administrator again” situation. Stevens has been placed on leave, the superintendent has made claims about Stevens’ performance and a dismissal hearing, as of press time, was planned, although no longer was it to be Dec. 12.

Another factor in these numbers, no matter if a reader has or has not taken a position on Stevens’ status, is her decision to share details about the matter publicly, and wanting a public process as opposed to largely in executive, or closed-door, session. In short, between what Stevens and subsequently Superintendent of Schools Kim Andersson have stated, we know a lot more about the claims and circumstances than the public would otherwise be entitled to know about a public employer’s personnel matter.

These numbers on our website, and parents and others’ public statements on the principal matter, have us very aware community interest in this ongoing matter remains, so we follow leads about new developments, some of which bear out; others not, so not reported. And when an announcement comes out, such as on the hearing date, we have each time passed it along to readers on the website and our Facebook page and in print. 

That is what happened Friday, Dec. 8. The school department announced the hearing’s postponement from Dec. 12, then one after another announcement updated the hearing date and then once more on Monday. Readers/viewers and I may have been feeling a little whiplash or like we were watching a “Who’s on first” skit. Situations evolve, like this one did. And I saw no one, from either party in the matter, trying to do anything but plan the hearing and keep the public up to date.

Live news, local or national, keeps readers up to date, including in fluid situations like Friday’s (and Monday’s). So the news is not said and done, more like, to be continued. As a news consumer, you no longer have to wait for the next day’s or week’s paper to find out the latest on whichever topics interest you. Just be sure to check back to those news outlets for any updates, in case things change, such as for a holiday event, or a hearing date. Or have the updates come to you: Follow us on Facebook or Instagram, and/or get our free Morning Catch email, seven mornings a week, plus breaking news and weekend event previews. On our homepage, find the “Subscribe to our mailing list” box.

Week’s positive parting thought, unless you snowmobile, sled, plow, etc.: I will take a winter that puts off snowstorms as long as possible.