RUMFORD — With up to six inches of new snow predicted in some areas of Western Maine for Monday afternoon, SAD 44 in Bethel and the Western Foothills Regional School Unit 10, based in Dixfield, dismissed students right after lunch Monday.
RSU 10 Superintendent Tom Ward said because the heaviest snow was expected to intensify between 2 and 3 p.m., which is the time youngsters are on buses on their way home, the decision was made to dismiss classes early.
Because dismissal was after lunch, it counts as a full school day, Ward said.
RSU 10 covers 12 towns from Hanover and Rumford to Canton and Buckfield.
Both SAD 44 and RSU 10 have taken five snow days so far this school year.
SAD 44 Superintendent David Murphy said his sources called for messy weather conditions Monday afternoon with up to 12 inches of new snow forecast.
“We hook up with a weather forecaster who is area specific,” he said.
He generally is notified of dangerous weather conditions by district maintenance and transportation people, then makes a decision on whether to dismiss early, cancel school, or have one- or two-hour delays.
School children were also released early from SAD 17 in the eight towns of the Oxford Hills region.
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