Wiscasset Superintendent of Schools Kim Andersson is invested in the town and its schools, and brings continuity to a job that has not had it in years, a parent told the school committee Tuesday night, March 12.

Sheri Eckert read from a letter of support she said was from students, parents, alumni, staff and community members. She said the effort is partly in response to “persistent negativity,” but mostly it was written because she and “many, many others” wanted to publicly show support for Andersson and the school committee, Eckert said. “We’ve just gotten this letter going and we’ve gathered over 60 signatures in no time at all. We’re just getting started.” 

The letter said Andersson has consistently listened to teachers and parents; has been a school board member, selectman, educational technician and teacher in Wiscasset, where she also coordinated an after school program. “Her students continue to remember her as someone who went the extra mile to support teachers, and provide instruction in classes outside of her own ... Most important, they all felt loved and cared for as individuals. Her students recall her (as) sweet, silly, patient, understanding and helpful. These are all important characteristics to have leading our community’s school district.”

Eckert continued, the community and school district must work together to help all students reach their potential. 

Asked for comment, Andersson told Wiscasset Newspaper via email March 13, “I was incredibly moved by the efforts of Sheri Eckert and community members to make a public showing of their support for Wiscasset Schools, and as a part of that, their support for me personally. The words in that letter brought tears to my eyes, especially when she read how former students remember me from the classroom. This is all about the kids, after all. I have seen this support all along – I see it at games, meets, fundraising events, in the halls at school, at concerts, and performances and all around town.

“Wiscasset loves its schools. Sheri’s letter summed up a very important point, though: We need continuity. We have work to do, a lot of work to do, and we are on it. A teacher told me a few months back that they believed our best days are ahead of us and I believe that, too, I always have. So, thanks, Wiscasset and thanks, Sheri. We've got this.”

The letter came two months after the committee got a “no confidence” one about Andersson, also from community members. The letter presented Jan. 9 accused Andersson of, among other claims, “a general lack of awareness, respect, sensitivity and good judgment, (and creating) a culture of uncertainty.” According to Wiscasset Newspaper files, the earlier letter had about 156 names, plus some lines stating “WMHS staff” without a name.

Among other public comments March 12 were a suggestion to post the committee’s agendas at the town office; a request to see how much would be saved by closing the central office and moving administration into a school; and Richard Lutes said students should not be used to market Wiscasset schools, and spending should focus on reading, writing and math, not new programming. 

Also in the meeting at Wiscasset Middle High School and carried on Zoom, Andersson said due to a possible drop in health insurance costs, she will wait until the committee’s April meeting for members to vote on the 2024-25 budget proposal. The committee then sets a town meeting-style budget meeting for residents’ votes on each cost center before the final vote at the polls June 11.

Wiscasset will ask the state to waive two days lost to the Lewiston mass shooter search last October. The committee nodded Andersson’s request to pay support staff, the only employees who would otherwise not get paid for those days. And Andersson said the last day of school is June 13; the state has approved changing April 3, May 1, May 15 and June 5 from early release to full days for WMHS students to make up two days they lost to a power outage.

WMHS Interim Principal Sarah Hubert said in her written report, talks are underway for a partnership with Maine Maritime Academy to possibly have school programming aboard the Harvey Gamage and Bowdoin; a staffed, student support center has been created in the middle school for those needing extra time with schoolwork “or a space during the day to calm themselves,” Hubert wrote. And in the meeting, she told the committee a newly won Maine Outdoor Learning Initiative grant will provide almost $50,000 to improve the trails and add to outdoor learning.