Superintendent Mark Eastman looks forward to the start of each school year with a sense of anticipation.

“You’ve been working all summer to get staff hired, make changes in the buildings. There’s lots of excitement and anticipation at seeing all those faces coming through the door. It always is a treat,” said Eastman as he reflected on the opening day of school for teachers and staff today and for students on Wednesday and Thursday. “There seems to be a renewed effort at a new year. A fresh start.”

Eastman, who has served as a classroom teacher or administrator for the past 30-plus years, said he tries the first day of school to visit each school in SAD 17. But with 427 square miles to cover even 42 school buses in the district’s fleet are stretched to their limits.

“I can go from Otisfield to Hebron and travel almost 30 miles. Even if I stay just five minutes, I won’t make it to that last school by 3 p.m.,” he said of efforts to visit each of the eight elementary schools, the high school, middle school and Streaked Mountain alternative school. So it may take him two days to visit on the first day this year.

Today, teachers attend a general assembly, one of the few times the superintendent will see all his teachers in one room at one time.

“It’s a time of thanks and encouragement,” explained Eastman of the meeting in which he hopes to build anticipation for the coming school year among the staff. The Mary Lou Burns award will also be given to a teacher, principal or community member who is recognized for their educational service to the school.

“It’s a complete surprise,” Eastman said of the award that is named after a much beloved former educator.

On Wednesday, it’s back to school for the approximately 3,600 students in grades one through six, and grades eight, 10, 11 and 12.

Students in grade seven and nine, who are new to their schools, come in Thursday to provide an easier transition for them. Kindergarten students also come in on a staggered schedule to provide smaller groups for orientation.

After the assembly, teachers will go back to their schools and work on the final details of the transition back to class. Then, Eastman said, “It’s full steam ahead.”