Mabel I. Wilson School in Cumberland in 2022. (Shawn Patrick Ouellette/Staff Photographer)

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As the dog days wind down and backpacks get packed, students in Cumberland and North Yarmouth are starting to get ready for their first day of school in the shared SAD 51 district.

SAD 51 Superintendent Jeff Porter. (Photo courtesy of SAD 51).

Grades 1-9 start on Tuesday, Sept. 2, with grades 10-12 starting on Wednesday, Sept. 3. Kindergarteners will begin on Thursday, Sept. 4, and the first day of pre-K is on Friday, Sept. 5.

To help students and families get ready for day one, SAD 51 Superintendent Jeff Porter answers questions about changes to the year ahead:

(Responses have been edited for clarity.)

Any changes in academic calendar, school start times or bus routes students need to know about? 

No real changes in these areas for this school year.

Any changes in regard to student cell phone use or technology?

No change here.

A year ago, the high school started a schoolwide cell phone procedure of having students put phones in classroom pockets consistently when they entered each class. Students can still have phones between classes and during less structured times. This went well overall and students and staff made some positive observations about this change, which will continue this year.

We continue a long-time practice in grades pre-K through 8 of not allowing phones at all to be present during the school day. Students may have them in their backpacks, but they are not allowed to be out or used.

Are there any changes in school leadership from last year? 

None.

Any other significant changes or developments in the district from last year?

This year, unlike any recent ones, will be consumed by major construction activity on campus as the One Campus project takes shape.

The turf field project is complete and will be ready for student athletes very shortly. The Gyger Way parking areas have been reconstructed to accommodate another 57 spaces, along with road, sidewalk, and landscape upgrades.

The new pre-K-grade 1 school site is being prepped for eventual construction of the building itself, with expected completion in July 2027. The new facilities building, which will replace the existing one located at the new pre-K-grade 1 school site, is halfway to completion, and site work has begun on the new classroom wing at Mabel I. Wilson School, with expected completion next summer.

I am happy to report that these projects are on schedule and under budget at the time of this writing, and it is our goal to continue this trend.  This year we will be starting transition committees for each of the new grade spans that will go into effect for the 2027-2028 school year to assist with smooth transitions to this new model. New grade spans starting in 2027 will be pre-K through grade 1 in the new school building being constructed, grades 2-4 at Mabel I. Wilson School, and grades 5-8 at Greely Middle School. The high school will remain grades 9-12.

We also are implementing a new literacy program in pre-K through grade 5 this year, sunsetting the current strategic plan and developing a new one for 2026-30, and installing a new security system district-wide.