RSU 71 Superintendent Mary Alice McLean issued the following letter to students, families and staff March 19:

Dear RSU # 71 Students, Parents, Staff, School Board, and Community, 

Yesterday was an amazingly uplifting day as staff rallied together to meet the needs of our beloved students and families, while also taking care of themselves and their own loved ones. All schools were open for specified periods, and parents and students were able to pick up go-bag meals and to help themselves to thousands of pounds of food-pantry and personal hygiene products, along with laptops, books, school supplies, home folders, smiles and lots of encouragement.  The spirit in each location was hearty, and the strong teamwork and collaboration on display were nothing short of heroic. Though no staff members were required to do so, a great many came into work anyway, and each of our eight locations was efficiently organized to practice safe social-distancing protocols while also supplying the needs of our exceptional school community.

• The Situation - As the coronavirus spreads rapidly and as medical experts urge people to stay home, we will be doing the same in RSU # 71. 

• Hours - All schools will be close down altogether as of 3 p.m. today.and all staff will continue to work from home as they are able, keeping in mind that their first priority should always be taking care of their own children, their elders, other family members, friends and neighbors in need and — very importantly — themselves.  We need everyone to stay healthy and safe. This mandate is in our collective self-interest. Exceptions will be made for administrators who do not have internet access in their homes, and for certain selected food service workers and for bus drivers who have asked if they may participate. ALL district employees will be paid as usual during this closure.

• Food Service (March 17 - April 17) - The only exception to the full closure will be the Captain Albert Stevens School (CASS), as its kitchen will be the location for the preparation of go-bag meals (breakfasts and lunches). These will then be delivered for curbside and parents and students should plan to take enough go-bags for two days’ worth of food and, on Friday, for three days’ worth.

Starting Monday, March 23, Go-Bag Meals will be available from 8 a.m. - 12 noon every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday in three locations: 

Captain Albert Stevens Elementary
East Belfast Elementary
Ames Elementary

• Deliveries for Families - Starting Monday, March 23, we will be using our school buses to deliver grab-and-go bag meals and school supplies to families who were and are unable to come to our sites.  Robo-messages (telephone and email) are being sent asking that you notify your school principal if you need food delivered to your home on those days. The master list is growing by the hour, and our Director of Transportation is creating bus routes to facilitate this endeavor efficiently. Families who would like go-bag meals and school laptops and supplies to be delivered should call or text the building principal. Parents need only contact one administrator and request meals for children who are in separate schools. Make sure to include your students’ names and addresses in the messages you leave. 

• • BAHS and BCOPE: Jeff Lovejoy 322-1054 and Colden Golann 322-809
  • THMS: Bruce Bailey 930-9720 and Alta Seekins 322-4744
  • CASS: Glen Widmer 322-5742, Ashley Reynolds 322-3086
  • East Belfast/Kermit Nickerson: Liz Wakem 930-9714
  • Ames/ Weymouth: Lori Smail: 322-1816

• Central Office - Please check our out newly created Coronavirus webpages at rsu 71.org. Tech help will be available for parents on the Resources for Home Learning webpage. Please feel free to access administrative help of any kind by calling:

1. Superintendent Mary Alice McLean - 930-9726
2. Assistant Superintendent/Curriculum Coordinator Laura Miller - 930-9725

I continue to be heartened by our collective capacity to illuminate, engage and serve in this difficult time. Some systems collapse when under this kind of pressure.  Ours, instead, is calling out the very best in everyone.

Sincerely and with great love,
Mary Alice McLean
RSU #71 Superintendent of Schools