Amid the controversy over Wiscasset Middle High School Principal Gina Stevens’ being put on paid leave, with a dismissal hearing pending, WMHS Athletic Director-Assistant Principal Sarah Hubert said she and a teacher accompanied 17 students Monday, Nov. 20 to keep them safe on a walkout from school across Route 27 to the Superintendent of Schools Office.
Hubert estimated about four school parents joined the group – three in the school parking lot and one at the superintendent’s office; and about six community members met the group along the way, at the Wiscasset Community Center driveway. Most of the time at the superintendent’s office, students sat on the grass and talked with one another, she said in a phone interview Nov. 21.
Social media posts Nov. 19 discussed plans for a walkout over the job status of Stevens, who was recently put on paid administrative leave. The school committee Nov. 13 voted to conduct a dismissal hearing, date still to be announced.
Superintendent of Schools Kim Andersson has said there is cause to immediately dismiss Stevens. Andersson has accused Stevens of poor judgment, communication failures, dishonesty and incidents including removing a student without a mandatory expulsion hearing.
Stevens has told Wiscasset Newspaper she has done nothing wrong. “I have only done my job appropriately and in line with expected leadership responsibilities,” she said via email after she was placed on leave. Several students and employees have publicly supported Stevens.
Responding to Wiscasset Newspaper’s email questions the afternoon of Nov. 20 about that day’s walkout, Hubert wrote: “I approached two of the student leaders this morning who respectfully shared their plan with me. One asked if I could go with them when I expressed my concern about their safety walking along Route 27. They did exactly what they told me their plan was. We left at 11:05 and returned before 11:45, which is when their afternoon classes begin.”
Asked how the school and/or school department handled the walkout, Hubert said: “It was handled calmly, with vigilance, and made sure there was organization.” She said the teacher who volunteered to help with student safety “even brought a first aid kit.” Hubert said students led the way and used sidewalks and the crosswalk. Then at the superintendent’s office, “They were standing ... near this wall (near) a big drop, so one of the staff came out and asked the kids not to stand near that wall, for safety reasons. And then they just sat on the grass with their signs and talked amongst themselves,” Hubert added in a phone interview Tuesday, Nov. 21.
Did any other staff take part in the walkout, as part of the walkout, as opposed to being there to ensure safety? None, Hubert said. If they had asked to, “I wouldn’t have denied it.” The time away from the building would have been handled as personal time and coverage of their students would have had to be arranged, she said. Students were allowed to take part in the walkout with parental permission, she said.
During the walkout, Andersson was in the WMHS library talking with upperclassmen, Hubert said. The students doing the walkout knew this, chose to do the walkout and then they went to the library “because they knew she was there. Some of them joined in on the conversation,” and Hubert left for other duties.
Asked via email Nov. 21 about the discussion in the library, Andersson explained: “I was holding a "Listening Session" in the library yesterday during Achievement and Lunch time, the time of the walkout. My plan was to offer a listening ear and maybe answer some questions for students who are worried by this situation. Five to seven students attended and we had an excellent and constructive conversation that started with questions about the personnel matter and evolved into a discussion about why students choose Wiscasset High School and how our school department is currently writing its educational philosophy.”
Andersson continued, “The protesting students returned to the school and joined us in the library. They carried signs protesting teachers leaving and me. They asked questions and I did my best to address them all without violating confidentiality around personnel issues. After about 45 minutes I left and most of the students returned to class and some of them went home for the day.”
Asked for any other comment on the walkout, Andersson said: “I am proud of our students and staff. We will get through this and I truly believe our best days are ahead of us.”
According to Andersson and Hubert, the principal matter has not affected students’ functioning, and for the most part has not affected the mood in the school and school department. “I think there are pockets of students who are upset and want answers but for the most part, our student body is simply carrying on,” including with the recent Turkey Thyme food drive and the middle schoolers being presented with the $1,000 they won in a Teens to Trails event spending time outside, Andersson said. “I would say the same for the staff; there are a few who are really feeling upset about the personnel matter but for the most part, they are very supportive and appreciative. While they don't make signs and comments at public meetings, they do send cards, letters, flowers, and texts every day of support and encouragement,” Andersson added.
Hubert said right now students and employees, including her, are doing their best to focus while the outcome of the principal matter is unknown. “We’re all going through this without knowing what the end is going to be ... I get up every day, and I have to go to this awesome place that I love working at, and I have to do my job. And I get there, and the kids are there, and the staff is there, and there’s laughing, there’s learning, there’s kids being involved in activities,” including the new sports season, Hubert said in the phone interview.
Wiscasset Newspaper has asked Stevens for any comment on the walkout or how she feels about reactions to her being on leave and the hearing being planned.
