Parts of custodial shifts are going uncovered in Wiscasset School Department, Maintenance and Transportation Director John Merry said. The cause is the continuing "struggle" to find substitutes, Merry's written monthly report stated. 

Dec. 10, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kim Andersson told school committee meeting goers the school department is “desperately seeking” substitutes for custodians and for van drivers. 

“If anybody out there knows anyone who wants to drive a van part-time or work very flexible custodial subbing, I mean you can almost make your own hours. We would welcome you.” Contact the superintendent’s office to apply, she said.

Merry also announced Amanda DiMauro as the new lead bus driver. DiMauro started as a van driver, then got her commercial driver's license with passenger and school bus endorsements and has been driving a regular bus route for the department for two years, Merry wrote.

"She's great. We're really excited," Andersson told the committee. 

And Andersson announced Merry has agreed to stay on, part-time, next February through June. "Nice!" Chair Tracey Whitney commented. Last January, the committee accepted Merry's retirement. In a December 2024 letter, Merry said his current contract is his last full one with the department and he plans to work full-time in the department until January 2026.

Andersson wants to form an interview committee in February toward finding Merry's successor.

Also Dec. 10, Wiscasset Middle High School Principal Sarah Hubert shared her idea to form a "school and community engagement collaborative" with the Boosters and Partners in Education (PIE) and seek to also include businesses and others. In the meeting and her written report, Hubert envisioned three or four meetings a year. The participants would be people who "want to support and help WMHS in one way or another. Each entity would be able to share what they have to offer and I would be able to explain what parts of our school community could use their help and support," such as through volunteering or sponsorships, Hubert wrote. 

She added in the meeting, a lot of people reach out to the school wanting to help. "And sometimes I say, 'OK, I can find something for you to do,' which kind of pulls away a little bit from the regular workings of the school day, which is OK, because I want them to have that connection and collaboration. But I need to make it a little more manageable ... We've got to make it doable for everybody so that there's a positive, productive outcome," she explained.

In an update from Siemens, company representative Avae Traina said the school department's performance contract project seven years ago has so far resulted in more than $50,000 "in cumulative excess savings. And we don't take any of that. It goes straight back to the school district," she said. "So, really good stuff. Really good work on John's part," she added about Merry.

In seven years, the school department has cut its carbon by an amount comparable to 19 years' worth of emissions from an average American home, Traina told the committee.