School board members Heather Sinclair and John Allen welcomed Maureen Heffernan Oct. 28 to the Edgecomb School Committee. Heffernan was appointed to fill a vacancy last month due to the resignation of Irene Marchenay.

Heffernan will serve out the unexpired term which ends in May.

In her first meeting, Heffernan heard about Education Boothbay’s latest initiative. Superintendent Bob Kahler reported the local nonprofit has a goal of raising $1.2 million over a three-year period. The nonprofit's business plan includes a region-wide place-based coordinator position serving Boothbay Region high and elementary schools, Southport Central School and Edgecomb Eddy School. The coordinator would support experimental, interdisciplinary and community-connected learning opportunities across all four schools. 

During the Oct. 28 meeting, Kahler reported an anonymous donor made a contribution which covered the position for three years.

In other action, the committee has changed auditors. The committee selected HRH Smith & Company in Buxton to handle the Fiscal Year 27 audit as well as “two, three past audits," Kahler said.

Sinclair was appointed to serve on the Alternative Organizational Structure 98 policy sub committee. The school committee tabled a proposal to move funds into the capital reserve and student expense reserve accounts.

The committee had its first reading on two policy amendments regarding public comment and AEDs (automated external defibrillators). The committee tabled a second reading on the following policies: Temperature Standards for Schools, Individualized Education Programs, Child Abuse or Neglect Reporting, Prevention and Education; Use of Physical Restraint; and Procedure.

The committee meets next at 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 23 in the school cafeteria.