DIXFIELD – Dirigo High School was bustling with activity on Tuesday afternoon while last-minute details were addressed.

New teachers stopped by the central office to get keys to their rooms. Teacher and staff workshops that started Monday continued through Tuesday. And, seemingly everywhere at once, Principal Dan Hart was opening boxes, answering questions and phones, meeting with teachers, and taking an occasional bite from the half-eaten sandwich on his desk.

Today, at 8:05 a.m., classes start for nearly 1,000 students at SAD 21’s four schools in Dixfield and Peru. Changes await, especially at the high school, which expects 102 seniors, 87 juniors, 112 sophomores and 80 freshmen, a total of 377 students.

“We had a great summer, so, we’re ready to roll,” Superintendent Thomas Ward said Tuesday afternoon.

Well, not quite ready.

Dirigo Middle School technology coordinator Jeff Druzba left on Aug. 23, after four years with SAD 21, to start an out-of-state job. His departure leaves an already short-staffed department handicapped, and many new laptop computers from Maine’s Learning Technology Laptop Initiative not ready for seventh- and eighth-graders, Ward said.

“The move was good for him, but not so good for us. We’re scrambling. Ironically, the opening-day workshop themes have been technology,” he added.

Ward said the district’s other two technology coordinators – Steve Grant at the high school and Nick Waugh at Dixfield and Peru Elementary schools – will fill in until another person can be hired.

At all four schools, the biggest change starts Wednesday, Sept. 6, and continues each consecutive Wednesday. It’s a 60-minute delay, meaning school starts at 9 a.m. rather than 8 a.m.

Hart said that will provide time for teacher workshops in professional development.

“We don’t look at it as losing instruction time. It’s just more efficient use of time,” he said.

Changes at the middle school include a 25-spot paved parking area and student drop-off zone, and new athletic practice fields, which can’t be used until spring.

Additionally, bleachers in the middle school and high school gyms were refurbished.

Changes in teaching assignments were made in the two elementary schools. New teacher Karen Gilman will teach art at both schools, while new teacher Laura Johnston will teach kindergarten in Dixfield.

At the high school, study halls are gone, replaced by a pilot program – Learning Laboratories – which will provide student-appropriate academic-, career- and life-skills programming ranging from remedial support to advanced opportunities.

“It’s like being at the mall. You can sign in and do more things,” Hart said.

The program’s new teacher is Norman Greenberg, a University of Southern Maine graduate and Outward Bound instructor.

Other new high school teachers include Erin Leathers, math and science; Debora Melanson, special education; Mike Nolette, social studies; and Athena Sanders, health, science and physical education.

Returning-from-leave teachers are Charlie Maddaus, English/language arts; Joseph Knowlton, sciences and biology; and Suzanne Taylor, English.

Among other changes:

• More bite was added to school suspensions, increasing penalty days from two to five.

• Students who carry four or more classes can’t fail more than one to remain eligible for sports activities.

• New electives – a forensic science class, taught by Melanie Johnson, with visits from police detectives and state medical examiners; history of American music, mythology, Maine authors, the Holocaust, and debate/public speaking.

• New clubs – volleyball, golf and pep.