Saturday, 04 September 2010
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Dr. Thomas Ward
Dr. Thomas Ward,Superintendent of Schools
The beginning of the 2008-09 school year is here and along with that are many changes for MSAD #21. The most important change is the long awaited opening of the new Dirigo Elementary School, which will house all of our PK-5 students from Canton, Carthage, Dixfield, and Peru. TWK Dirigo Middle School is now a grades 6-8 school. Dixfield Elementary School is now the home of the Superintendent of School's Central Offices in one wing and in the other wing, which has been named Dirigo High School East Campus will be four high school classrooms and the Alternative Education Program. The building will also be the site of the new MSAD #21 Wellness Center which we hope to open to the public this fall.

We owe a great deal of thanks to our teachers, ed techs, nurses, secretaries, custodians, and administration for their hard work in cleaning, packing, and moving. Everyone participated in this effort. A special thanks to our custodians who worked long tireless hours in all types of conditions and got the job done.

Reorganization will be the hot topic this school year, as we will be voting at the November election on a referendum to form a Regional School Unit (RSU). There will be many public informational meetings scheduled this fall to give the communities factual information about the impact of the proposed reorganization.

Once again, we have some new staff to welcome to the MSAD #21 family. Dan Robinson a DHS graduate will be teaching grade 7 Math at TWKDMS. Karolyn Buotte a MVHS graduate will be teaching English at DHS. Mary Wainwright a DHS graduate will be an Ed Tech III at TWKDMS, and Mike Poulin a Rumford High School graduate will be taking on the duties of Principal at DHS. I am entering my sixth year as the Superintendent of Schools for MSAD #21. I want you to know that they have been the most rewarding of my 31 years in education. Thank you all for your help and support.

Sincerely,
Dr. Thomas J. Ward