Public Information and Announcements

I’m writing this evening to let you know that the district was informed of three additional cases of COVID-19 today; one case was at Margaret Chase Smith School, one case at Skowhegan Area Middle School and one case at Bloomfield Elementary School. These new cases were again a result of contact that occurred outside of school.

Nursing staff and building administrators worked through the day to contact trace and follow-up with all close contacts associated with these new positive cases. Individuals identified as needing to quarantine from school have been contacted. A total of 5 individuals were asked to quarantine from school as a result of these three positive cases.

I’m writing this afternoon to let you know that the district was informed of four additional cases of COVID-19 today; one case at Bloomfield Elementary School, one case at Mill Stream Elementary School, one case at Skowhegan Area Middle School, and one case at Skowhegan Area High School. These four new cases were again a result of contact that occurred outside of school.

Nursing staff and administration worked throughout the day to determine close contacts. As a result of today’s cases 16 additional students have been asked to quarantine from school. At this time there is no recommendation that we close a school or take additional actions beyond those described above. 

First let me begin by reminding you that tomorrow is a scheduled early release day for staff and students. Dismissal is at 11:45.

COVID-19 continues to be a challenge in our community and in our schools. Today we saw 5 additional cases of COVID-19 in our schools with two of the cases being family members of prior cases that we had reported. One case was reported at Mill Stream Elementary School, two at Skowhegan Area Middle School, and Two at Skowhegan Area High School. None of these cases appear to have been a result of contact or spread in school.

As you know quarantine has had a significant impact on schools across the state. As a result of today’s cases 23 additional students have been asked to quarantine from school. At this time there is no recommendation that we close a school or take additional actions beyond those described above. In the words of one expert I spoke with, “When following the protocols, schools are one of the safest places kids can be.” We believe this strongly and will continue to reach out with new cases or additional information should anything change.

State Funded Elementary Building Project

Thursday September 30, 2021 
6:00pm @ Canaan Elementary School Gym
Public meeting on MSAD 54's Building Project and the impact to Canaan Elementary School
The goal of this public meeting is to inform and engage community stakeholders regarding MSAD 54's state funded building project and to answer questions about the impact the project will have on the Canaan Elementary School, including the removal of portables and adjustment of the building composition to a Pre-K through Grade 2 school.  

Thursday October 14, 2021 
6:00pm @ Skowhegan Area High School Auditorium
Public meeting on MSAD 54's Building Project with Architects Stephen Blatt and Doug Breer  

and

Thursday October 28, 2021 
6:00pm on Zoom (https://zoom.us/j/95720626359?pwd=TG1aYThNR3N4VFhjN2dURUZ2aEEydz09)
Public meeting on MSAD 54's Building Project with Architects Stephen Blatt and Doug Breer
The goal of these public meetings is to inform and engage stakeholders early in the design phase of the new state-funded elementary school project. This is an opportunity for members of the public to offer insight and ideas, and to identify community priorities. This public input and community involvement is essential to a successful, collaborative design process, and the creation of a wonderful new school facility.

I’m writing this afternoon to let you know that the district was informed of six additional cases of COVID-19 today and over the weekend; one case at Canaan Elementary School, two cases at Skowhegan Area Middle School, and two cases at Skowhegan Area High School. Each of these cases are believed to be a result of contact that occurred outside of school. 

Nursing staff worked over the weekend and through this afternoon to follow-up with the close contacts associated with these positive cases. Individuals identified as needing to quarantine from school have been contacted. A total of 37 individuals were asked to quarantine as a result of these six positive cases.

I’m writing this afternoon to let you know that the district was informed of four additional cases of COVID-19: one case at Bloomfield Elementary School, two cases at Canaan ElementarySchool, and one case at Skowhegan Area Middle School. Our nursing staff and administration worked throughout the day to determine close contacts and ultimately 21 individuals have had to quarantine from school.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, our focus has been to keep kids in school safely. Each time we have a positive case an exhaustive process is used to determine contacts, including identifying contacts that likely led to the positive individual becoming infected. Today’s case at Bloomfield Elementary School, unlike those previous, did not have a clear link to contact outside of school. Although there was not definitive evidence of in school spread in today's Bloomfield case, there was enough concern that the decision was made to follow the CDC guidance for possible in class spread and quarantine the entire classroom of concern. This decision was made, as all decisions in the past have been made, to ensure the safety of our students and staff.

I’m writing this afternoon to let you know that the district was informed of four additional cases of COVID-19 today; two cases at Bloomfield Elementary School, and two cases at Skowhegan Area High School. These four new cases were again a result of contact that occurred outside of school.

Nursing staff and administration worked throughout the day to determine close contacts and ultimately 9 students have had to quarantine from school.