With Wiscasset's Future of the Schools Committee report done, reported on, and headed to selectmen, Wiscasset Newspaper sought reaction from a nearby superintendent, plus Wiscasset's superintendent and a peninsula selectman who's on a citizens' committee looking at the future of Boothbay Region schools.

The Wiscasset future of the schools committee report makes no recommendation on what Wiscasset should do. But discussing options, it states in part: "Regionalization offers a potential path to long-term sustainability by partnering with neighboring communities to form a larger, more robust high school program. This option envisions Wiscasset serving as a hub for a new regional school, potentially in partnership with Boothbay, Alna, Westport Island, Dresden, Whitefield, and other Lincoln County towns." The report notes this would take "extensive planning, trust-building, and transparent community engagement across multiple towns. The (regionalization) sub-committee envisions a phased approach to regionalization, beginning with shared discussions and pilot collaborations, followed by exploration of formal governance models ..."

Alna, Westport Island and Whitefíeld are all in Sheepscot Valley Reġional School Unit, or RSU 12, the district Wiscasset withdrew from. Wiscasset Newspaper asked SVRSU Superintendent of Schools Howard Tuttle how he felt about the fact the report mentions some SVRSU towns as potential partners in a regional high school in Wiscasset.

Tuttle answered, "I appreciate the work that went into the Future of Wiscasset Schools (Committee) Report. While RSU 12 was not involved in the process, the RSU 12 Board of Directors is always open to conversations that could expand opportunities for students.

"Some of our towns were mentioned as potential partners in a regional high school model. That idea is worth exploring, but it would need strong community support, clear benefits for students, and careful planning around costs, transportation, and school culture. Right now, we are watching the discussion with interest and would be open to talking more if a formal proposal comes forward," Tuttle said.

Boothbay Harbor Selectboard Vice Chair Kenneth Rayle and some other peninsula residents have watched some of Wiscasset's discussion. The Boothbay Region-based Future of Our Schools Committee formed this year and has subcommittees with the same themes as Wiscasset's: Tuitioning out students, consolidating with area schools, and the status quo.

Rayle told Wiscasset Newspaper, the Wiscasset Future of the Schools Committee's report is "well thought out" and can help keep the conversation going about the similar issues towns are facing and what can be done to solve them. Everyone will have to answer that question, with a good, hard look and without emotion, he said.

As people continue to talk and the facts come in, Rayle said, he hopes enough people can agree on a solution and make "the best educational learning environment for our kids or grandkids."

And what does Wiscasset's superintendent of schools think of the report she and other officials with the school department helped inform? Dr. Kim Andersson suggested Wiscasset is well-positioned to be an education hub, in part because the town schools already draw from other towns.

"Wiscasset is and has been surrounded by towns with school choice for many years. We already serve students from several towns in addition to Wiscasset. This is a great benefit for the taxpayers of Wiscasset because students from other towns bring subsidy and/or tuition.

"It is also a great benefit for the families and students that live in our town. Since I have been the superintendent, we have been working diligently to increase enrollment through recruitment of students from area towns. The Futures committee has indicated regionalization is a smart solution; this underscores the path Wiscasset Schools is already on."

Plans called for selectmen to take up the report Aug. 19. And Boothbay Register recently reported the Future of Our Schools Committee meets Aug. 8 at 3 p.m. at the Boothbay town office. Rayle said people from on and off the peninsula are welcome to attend.