How detailed should Wiscasset School Department get on each of its goals? The school committee and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kim Andersson deliberated on that Oct. 8 and worked out some potential answers.

The committee will consider approving the goals in November.

Members reviewed proposed department goals Andersson drafted. Chair Tracey Whitney suggested the committee bear in mind, the goals will later be used in the committee's evaluation of the superintendent. Whitney wanted the goals to be "workable and achievable and something that is measurable."

On the proposed goal to increase enrollment, Vice Chair Jonathan Barnes said committee members might have varied views on what a good increase is. "So how then how do we evaluate if you (the superintendent) did a good job or not?"

And enrollment is "not entirely within" the school department's control, member Victoria Hugo-Vidal said. "You can have the best recruitment program, but (if) no students have moved into the area, no one's going to come," she said.

Andersson eyed listing whatever steps she takes. "If I say I put together a team and they took pizza and they visited eight eighth grades and we got four of those eighth grades to come back and tour our school, and we had a field day with those kids, then I would feel like I'd accomplished a goal."

Andersson observed, the department has no "formal or documented" recruitment process. Getting one could be the goal, she said. She and Whitney discussed wording the goal this way: "Formalize and enact a recruitment process to increase enrollment."

Also mulled was how to measure a goal about upping revenue. Ideas included a percent or other number, such as how many new sources of revenue are found.

"We're going to need to find different things, because if our trajectory for (Wiscasset’s) valuation is what we think it's going to be by 2028, we're going to become a minimum receiver (of state aid)," Andersson said. "If that goes away, how are we going to get that money? I don't want to wait and just be like, ‘Hey, taxpayer.’”

Also Oct. 8, the committee, following recent months' talks, agreed unanimously to apply to the state for a regional grades nine through 16 school. According to the discussion, applying commits the local department to nothing, and the state will give feedback to all applicants.