SVRSU opens school year

Sun, 09/06/2020 - 8:45am

Westport Island’s and Alna’s school district, Sheepscot Valley Regional School Unit, had a “very successful” start to school, Superintendent of Schools Howie Tuttle said.

“Students attended school fully in person on Sept. 2 and 3. We do offer a fully remote option for learning if families wish to choose that,” Tuttle wrote in an email Friday. Districtwide, about 15% of students chose that option, Tuttle said.

As for the in-person learning, Tuttle said, “Students, staff, and parents were all very good at the new protocols of hand washing/sanitizing, mask-wearing, and social distancing.

“Everyone was very excited to see the students again. It has been a long time,” he added. “We are very excited that the safety protocols published by the Maine Department of Education allow us to return to in-person learning. We hope the COVID cases in the region remain low so we can continue our full-time, in-person learning.”

Under the reopening plan the district’s board passed Aug. 13, a student’s in-person learning would change from five days a week to two if the state determines the region’s coronavirus risk has increased.