Andersson: Wiscasset’s cost per student not in ‘outer space’ for region

Wiscasset's superintendent, Dr. Kim Andersson, used the public comment period at an Oct. 6 selectboard meeting to respond to remarks made over recent months that compared the town's per-student spending with Richmond's. Some commenters had suggested Richmond as a model and described Wiscasset's costs as far out of line. Andersson said Richmond is the outlier among nearby districts.

Using figures for fiscal year 2024-25, the latest on the Maine Department of Education's data dashboard, she gave these per-student costs: Richmond $18,412, Boothbay-Boothbay Harbor Community School District $27,320, Regional School Unit 1 $25,424, and Wiscasset $25,060. After the school budget failed on Sept. 1, she told the school committee that Richmond spends over $1 million less on special education, in part because it has fewer out-of-district placements, and about half a million dollars less on facilities. A committee member said Richmond's buildings are much newer. Andersson also said that if repeated budget votes stop, her own role could potentially be reduced to a part-time schedule, noting Richmond's superintendent is contracted for three days weekly.

Voters will weigh in on the department's third proposed 2026-27 budget on Nov. 3. At the same Oct. 6 meeting, selectmen voted 5-0 to approve using $110,100 from the Larrabee Fund for the band program, including a band director's pay. A resident questioned whether the fund permits salary use. The town manager said its wording refers to maintaining a band and that the town attorney had advised that wording covers an instructor.