The following was submitted by School Administrative District (Camden-Rockport K-8)/Five Town CSD (Camden Hills Regional High School) Superintendent's Office on Aug. 25:

Sometimes school years come with the unexpected: pop quizzes, surprise snow days, and, lately more than a few surprise plumbing adventures. The Five Town CSD and SAD 28 school districts have seen their share of water woes in recent months — but each time, the quick action and teamwork of our facilities staff turned potential disasters into inspiring stories of resilience and collaboration.

The most recent incident took place at Camden Rockport Middle School July 29 when staff arrived in the early morning hours to find the main and bottom floors affected by a leak in a bathroom ceiling.

This unexpected leak resulted from a substance that dripped during construction, landed on a PVC water pipe, and ate a small hole through which water fiercely leaked.

The maintenance team immediately shut off the water, rallied custodial staff, and rolled in equipment from across the district. Within hours, standing water was removed, fans and dehumidifiers were humming, and Servpro was on the scene. Even Principal Jacob Giessman got involved, rolling up his sleeves alongside the crew.

"I was floored by the response,” he said. “Everybody had a positive, can-do attitude. Nothing means more to me than people willing to help each other.”

Earlier this spring, it was Camden Hills Regional High School’s Athletics and Maintenance Garage that faced an unexpected shower.

A water main serving the irrigation system burst one evening in April, soaking insulation, drywall, and equipment for several hours. Thankfully, a returning bus driver spotted water coming through doors and out windows late that night, and the facilities team and water company sprang into action. With quick coordination and long hours of cleanup, essential repairs were completed over the summer, and the garage is on track to be fully functional again this fall.

Meanwhile, over at the Elm Street School, just before the district turned the property over to the town in July, a crack in an underground water main beneath the playground threatened to flood the basement. Thanks to careful weekend monitoring by the Children’s House Montessori School staff and the district’s facilities department, the situation never escalated. The water company made repairs quickly, and the school avoided major damage altogether.

A few years ago, just before school started, a fan at the high school caught on fire which set off the sprinkler system and damaged the high school gym floor. Again, our custodial and maintenance departments quick response mitigated much of the potential damage.

Across all these events, one theme shines through: the dedication and expertise of the facilities and custodial staff.

As Assistant Director of Facilities and Transportation Maggie Massengale put it: “The staff has always been quick to get the water up and out of the building… they are a well-oiled machine.”

Superintendent Maria Libby added: “No matter how many times Murphy’s Law strikes, our team rapidly parts the seas to minimize impact and damage. It is incredible to witness.”

Director of Facilities and Transportation Chris Fanelli echoed that pride in his team: “These incidents really show the strength of our staff and their commitment to the schools. The response was immediate, coordinated, and effective—everyone knew what needed to be done, and they did it without hesitation.”

We share this story not because of the series of unfortunate watery events, but because of the resilience, teamwork, and community spirit across the districts. We are incredibly fortunate to have the people working in our schools that we do. With schools restored, hallways dry, and students ready to learn, the future is looking bright for both Five Town CSD and SAD 28.