New SAD 21 superintendent ready for opening day
DIXFIELD – Despite only having been on the job for less than two months, new Superintendent Thomas J. Ward is ready for students to return Wednesday.
Ward, 49, is no stranger to SAD 21, having served as principal at Dirigo High School from 1985 to 1987.
“I have been on the job since July 1 and am pleased to report that I am very impressed with the people I have met, whether it is for the first time or getting reacquainted with old friends,” Ward said. “I was excited to see that the SAD 21 community still is very supportive of their schools and children.”
Ward said he is also looking forward to tackling several arduous tasks.
“We have much to do: from finishing our districtwide assessment plan, connecting to the State of Maine Data Management System, dealing with the federal No Child Left Behind Act legislation, and all issues related to the possible Peru merger and its impact on the Canton and Dixfield elementary schools if approved by our communities, and what to do if it is not,” he said.
Other major issues include wrestling with and prioritizing growing technology and curriculum needs, the need for a bus garage, and overcrowding in some of the district’s four schools.
“I am looking forward to working very hard and having a great deal of fun at the same time,” Ward added.
Dixfield and Canton elementary schools Principal Kathy Richard said she, too, was eager for students to return on Wednesday, Aug. 27.
To better accommodate overcrowding, the district moved last year’s singlewide portable from Dixfield Elementary School to T.W. Kelly Dirigo Middle School, replacing it with a new doublewide portable. Richard also altered teaching assignments at Dixfield Elementary School, creating a multigrade one/two class, multigrade two/three class, a new early kindergarten program along with one session of kindergarten, and a K-4 classroom music program at Canton and Dixfield elementary schools only.
“We are very excited to be able to offer this program to students. These changes in teaching assignments will help to keep class sizes down to better meet the educational needs of students,” Richard said.
New and returning middle school students will have an expanded band/chorus program which will enable them to participate in either a beginning or intermediate band class, said Principal Thomas Starratt.
Classrooms have been refurbished and student schedules prepared to allow for development of an advanced math class to improve their pre-algebra skills, Starratt added.
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