Wiscasset officials have found a way to possibly get a school committee elected well sooner than the town otherwise could. A special selectmen's meeting has been called for 5:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 11, at the town office for the board to take up the matter.

According to Town Manager Laurie Smith's November 8 memo to selectmen, state law usually calls for school committee elections to be part of an annual town meeting; but the same law permits a special town meeting to be called to fill vacancies, the memo states.

In addition, the usual, 85-day lead-up to an election, including 40 days for nominations and then another 45-day wait, could be pared to a month, according to the memo.

Smith's memo does suggest the board consider giving people time to learn that the openings are coming up and gather signatures to be candidates.

“Another issue to consider is the fact that we are headed into a holiday season which may impact the process as well,” Smith writes.

She and Town Clerk Christine Wolfe are proposing that on Monday, November 11, selectmen declare the vacancies and call for the special election; that on Thursday, November 14, nomination papers start to be available and notices go in local newspapers to advertise the openings; and that on Monday, December 2, nomination papers be due.

Smith and Wolfe are proposing the election be held either Tuesday, December 17, or, Tuesday, January 7. The longer date would allow more time for absentee voting and avoid the holiday season, the memo states.

As proposed, one of five school committee slots would expire June 10, 2014; two on June 9, 2015; and the other two on June 14, 2016,