Thomas Seekins of Siemens outlined the revised plan for energy conservation in Wiscasset School Department’s buildings at the Dec. 12 School Committee meeting.

Due to the amount of time between the original agreement and last month’s vote to continue with the energy program despite voters’ rejection of the contract, the schools will have to approach the banks again, and won’t be able to sign a contract with Siemens until the closing. Seekins said Androscoggin Bank was still interested and was offering similar terms.

He said most of the contract prices will be similar, because the contractors are holding their prices steady. With certain grant funds the school department already received, the cost of the project went down, from $1.75 million to $1.49 million. More grant funding from Efficiency Maine is expected to help with LED lighting.

Seekins said the work would be done over 10 months, much of it in the summer and other school breaks, with construction beginning in a year.

Another topic Tuesday night was how to make up canceled school days. As it stands now, schools would be in session until June 20. Options included eliminating the early release schedule, beginning either in January or March. This would do away with professional development for teachers and staff, but the option would be expected to be popular with parents, according to Superintendent of Schools Heather Wilmot. Member Glen Craig comment said parents would prefer full days. Making the change in March would only save one day; beginning in January would save three.

A third plan would extend the school day on early release days by one hour, while a fourth would add an hour at the end of every school day in April.

Because it is unknown what kind of winter it will be, it is important to try to recoup some of the hours before summer, Wilmot said. School was closed for a week after the Oct. 30 windstorm. A snowstorm caused school to be canceled Tuesday, Dec. 12.

Wilmot announced the resignation of Wiscasset Middle High School science and math teacher Tara Adolphsen, who left to care for her newborn.

The committee approved buying a scrubber for $6,800. John Merry said the repair cost for the department’s 18-year-old machine would be $1,400.