The voting is on for Wiscasset's new school committee. Residents have contests to decide on three of the five seats.

Absentee ballots are available at the town office until January 2, ahead of the January 7 election.

Colleen Bennett and Wenonah Wirick turned in nomination papers for the seat with the first term to expire, in June 2014; and Douglas Smith, Sharon Nichols and Steven Smith turned in papers for the two seats whose terms end in June 2016.

Eugene Stover and Glen T. Craig will be on the ballot for the two seats with terms ending in June 2015.

The committee will lay the groundwork for Wiscasset's first year outside Regional School Unit 12. The town is on its own starting July 1, 2014. Residents voted November 5 to leave the district.

Plans continue for a school committee candidates' night that the Wiscasset Budget Committee has announced for 7 p.m., December 19, at Wiscasset Middle School.

Bennett, Wirick, Craig and Steven Smith said they plan to take part; Nichols said she doesn't know at this time; Douglas Smith said he can't say until he's been invited and until he knows what the format will be; Stover also said he would wait for the format.

Budget Committee Chairman Bob Blagden said December 9 that a letter was being drafted to send to the candidates.