It was the first meeting for new school committee members Jesse Wright and Irene Marchenay, but the three-person board already has eight questions for Edgecomb selectmen. On Aug. 20, committee chairman Heather Sinclair led a discussion regarding selectmen’s comments in the Boothbay Register’s Aug. 15 edition, “Residents express concerns about tax bills.”

Her concerns stemmed from selectmen’s statements doubting whether the school budget would pass at the May town meeting and residents’ discussing of options for closing the school or seeking a regionalization approach to public education. The school committee also felt left out of what they deemed as an important conversation over local education’s future in Edgecomb. “We have not received any correspondence from them about any of us. I’m surprised and frustrated about reading what they discussed in the Boothbay Register,” Sinclair said.

Prior to the school committee meeting, Sinclair planned a written response to the Aug. 8 selectmen’s meeting school discussion. Wright and Marchenay reviewed and edited the response which included eight major points. “The Edgecomb School Committee seeks clarity regarding several points raised in the recent Boothbay Register article describing citizens’ concerns about this year’s tax bills, and seemed to center on the school budget and school committee. The school committee seeks the following information,” she wrote.

The information sought was written in question form. No. 1: What steps does the selectboard take to promote public awareness of and attendance at school committee meetings? No. 2: What process will the selectboard have for informing the school committee of any school-related questions or discussions that occur at other Edgecomb meetings? No.3: What changes will the selectboard propose for the budget process? No. 4: What reports and/or recommendations does the selectboard typically receive from the budget committee? No. 5: Could the school committee receive copies of all such budget committee reports and/or be invited to all meetings in which such reports are given?

No. 6: Is the selectboard aware of the recent invitations from the AOS 98 board to selectmen to participate in regionalization discussions? No. 7: How can the school and select boards work together to participate in future discussions of school reorganization? No. 8: Could the selectboard prepare information for the public regarding the effects of the planned revaluation will have on mill rates?

“The newly seated Edgecomb School Committee looks forward to participating with selectboard and residents in any matters of concern. We invite public comment and attendance at meetings and encourage written communications to the school board and administration,” Sinclair wrote.

Once the committee approved the letter’s language, Sinclair left to present the letter to the selectboard. 

In other action, Sinclair was elected chairman. Wright was elected vice-chairman. The committee approved hiring Dee Douin as a custodial maintenance supervisor effective July 15. Peter Greenleaf was hired as a bus driver effective Sept. 1. The committee also accepted two resignations. Laura Hall resigned her food service job effective June 14. Jennifer McIvor resigned as a music teacher effective Aug. 31. 

The school committee meets next at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 3 in the cafeteria.