Wiscasset school committee members acknowledged January 16 that one of the town's three schools will probably need to be closed to save money. But no agreement was reached on when to switch to a two-school system.

“This is a tough one,” Chairman Glen Craig said in opening the committee's discussion about consolidation.

“We probably have to close one school, but not right away,” member Colleen Bennett said. She did not favor a closure in time for the start of the school year in September.

It will help to have a superintendent in place as the committee continues to discuss the options, she said.

“Obviously, a school has to close,” Vice Chairman Steve Smith said. “My feeling is, make a three-school budget (this year) and plan to consolidate the next year, to get the most benefit from consolidation.”

It can and should be done by September, member Sharon Nichols said.

“If we do not, we will be coming back to the voters with an extremely high budget and I will not support that,” Nichols said.

A 2007 study that cost the town $75,000 recommended closing Wiscasset Middle School, Nichols said. If that building closes, the primary school could serve grades kindergarten though six, and the high school grades seven through twelve, Nichols said.

The change would allow the school system to offer more courses, including advanced courses, she said.

The prior study needs to be reviewed for any factors that may have changed in the years since it was conducted, Craig said.

Moving the grades into the other buildings would not require a town vote, Nichols said. Other decisions may, but not a change in where the students attend classes, she said.

“We're closing a building. We're not closing grades,” Nichols said.

Budget work could get under way by developing both a two-school budget and a three-school one, she said.

The schools' principals have prepared budget proposals, which the interim superintendent can look at when one is hired, Wiscasset Middle School Principal Linda Bleile said.

“Please rest assured that the budgets are well under way,” Bleile said.

“I'm extremely pleased to hear that,” Nichols said. It wasn't surprising, given the high quality of educators Wiscasset has, she added.

Member Eugene Stover suggested the committee schedule a workshop to look over blueprints and other information compiled for the earlier study.

He said if consolidation doesn't happen the first year, the only help for a large tax hike would be items the town can contest with Regional School Unit 12, regarding withdrawal costs.

Notices to employees still up in the air

Members continued mulling the possibility of sending letters to staff, notifying them they may not have jobs with the new school department.

Without the letters, the town will owe 90 days' pay and benefits to any who do lose their jobs, Stover said.