As we see the escalating impact of COVID-19 across our state and the nation, we recognize that friends and families are looking for ways to connect and to maintain normal traditions in an abnormal time. As the holiday season approaches, it is critically important that our school communities continue to do everything we can in order to keep our schools safe, open, and able to provide in-person instruction.

This may mean making the safe and difficult choice to limit holiday gathering and travel, as we know that both have additional risks for exposure and transmission of the virus. The United States Center for Disease Control has issued strong guidance to the American people to limit our interactions and travel this holiday season, so that we can all gather safely in the future. Further details of the CDC’s recommendations can be found, here. 

Based on the recommendations of the community health experts, we strongly encourage our staff and students to celebrate each holiday within your current household only, and to limit any large gatherings.  Any staff or students who travel to any state other than New Hampshire or Vermont (no restrictions for these two states only as of 11/16/20; subject to change), they will be required to either: 

1. quarantine for 10 days upon return to Maine, or

2. quarantine until a receiving a negative test result. The test must be taken either:

   1. in the state you are visiting and no more than 72 hours prior to your return to Maine, or

   2. once you return to Maine.

Any staff or students who have traveled to restricted states will not be permitted inside the school building until either the negative test result or 10 days has occurred.
This is not dependent on the length of time spent within the restricted states, meaning that a day visit still requires any person to quarantine for 10 days or until a negative test result is confirmed. All members of the household who travel must test or quarantine if over 12 months old. Testing site information for Maine can be found here. The school requires a copy of the negative COVID test prior to students returning to school.

Any person who is quarantining should stay home, and not have in-person contact with others unless there is an emergency.

A non-traditional holiday season can be hard on all of us. Please stay safe and help us to keep our school community safe and able to provide for the students we serve.

Earlier this Fall, a rare opportunity came available for the purchase of just under 2.5 acres of land abutting the school campus. This land, at 359 and 361 Tuttle Road, would provide much-needed relief for a congested campus and allow the district to potentially build a small primary school on the current campus without needing to look for land off-site. Purchase of the land is contingent upon a successful referendum in the future, possibly September 2021, in concert with a building project proposal. Notwithstanding any of the options for a building project, acquiring land for the school district is a critical need that has been a priority for some time now. Over the next several months, a concept design and timeline for next steps will be communicated to the public, with opportunities for feedback once these plans have been developed more fully.