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It will be a hot weather return to school this week with a few new changes for thousands of Franklin County’s students.
In MSAD 58, among the changes are that fewer principals will be leading the five schools. Principal Felicia Pease at Strong Elementary School will this year split her time between the Strong school and Phillips Elementary School. Likewise, Principal Marco Aliberti will spend half his time at Stratton Elementary and the other half at Kingfield Elementary School.
Andrea Adams, superintendent’s secretary, also noted that work on the pellet boiler at the Phillips school continues and should be completed in October. The pellet boiler replacement work at Kingfield and Strong is set for completion too.
School secretaries in MSAD 58 say that early indications are kindergarten enrollments may be up, but Adams said it will be another two weeks before those numbers are firmed up.
Kindergarten through ninth grade begins Tuesday. Aug. 31 and grades 10-12 start on Wednesday, Sept. 1.
“We’ll be glad to have them all back,” Adams said of the district’s students.
The major education discussion in Jay revolves around developing plans to consolidate the school department with MSAD 36, a decision which will be made by local voters on Jan. 25. Superintendent Robert Wall said that the school committee and staff are working with the Regional Planning Committee, as well as helping put together ancillary plans to help make the proposed plan function, should it be approved.
However, in the short term, Wall said students and parents should expect no impact to course offerings at Jay-area schools. The school continues to share courses with MSAD 36, as well as sending students to the Foster Tech Center in Farmington.
Freshmen should arrive at Jay High School at 7:45 a.m., on Aug. 31, for a half-day orientation session and lunch. All other students’ first day will be Sept. 1.
Major construction at two schools in Mt. Blue RSU 9 will mean traffic changes said Superintendent Michael Cormier. As Mallett School’s kindergarten through third-grade students get a daily, up-close view of how a new school is constructed next door, parents should be aware of the changing parking and drop off areas.
At Mt. Blue High School, portions of the construction are underway including sewer work along Whittier Road. Parents as well as student drivers coming to the high school should expect delays with the construction, so leaving a little earlier is advised.
In addition, the Foster Tech Center has moved its 12 programs to the former Farmington shoe factory on High Street as construction of the $64 million renovation and building expansion continues on what will be a state-of-art learning campus. Construction is scheduled to be completed in 2013.
For the first year, pre-school programs are beginning at Cape Cod Hill School in New Sharon and at C.D. Cushing School in Wilton.
All grades through ninth grade begin Tuesday. Aug. 31, with grades 10-12 starting on Wednesday, Sept. 1.
“We’re up and ready to go,” Cormier said, adding, “We expect a great year.”
