August 1, 2026
Dear Wiscasset Schools Community,
Happy August 1st! I am looking forward to welcoming staff and students back for the 2026-27 school year! With four weeks of summer left, I wanted to reach out and share some important dates and information.
Back-to-School
Open House will be held on the Thursday before school starts this year, August 27th, from 4pm-6pm at both schools. The First day of school for K-12 is Monday, August 31st. Pre-K will begin with half days from Tuesday, September, 2nd - Friday, September, 4th. The first full day of PreK is Tuesday, September 8th. Principal Clements and Principal Hennessey will provide more details in their upcoming Back-to-School Newsletters. Lastly, don’t miss Set For Success this year at the Wiscasset Community Center, 1pm - 3pm, on August 16th for all your students’ back-to-school supply needs and more! I am so grateful to Feed Our Scholars for their ongoing support and herculean efforts for the Wiscasset Schools community. The quiet work this champion team of volunteers does behind the scenes impacts our community in tremendous and positive ways, today and into the future.
School Budget Update: Vote September 1st
On July 23rd, the Revised School Budget was adopted as presented. This budget provides a less than .5% increase in local taxation. To get this number, we cut over $450,000 in student support staffing, staff training and professional development, and maintenance funding. In order to be fully adopted, the town needs to approve it on September 1st. Polls will be open from 8am - 8pm at the Wiscasset Community Center. See the full budget details here. Please come out to vote on September 1st - our schools need you.
Cell Phone Ban
In the spring of 2026, the state of Maine passed a law that will require all public schools to restrict student use of cell phones and smart devices during the school day. This law goes into effect today, August 1st, and supports our ongoing commitment to creating safe, respectful, and focused learning environments for our school community. All Wiscasset schools will move to cell phone-free school days starting on the first day of school for the 2026–2027 school year, August 31st.
This means that from arrival to dismissal, bell-to-bell, students will be expected to keep personal electronic devices silenced, out of sight, and unused throughout the school day.
By limiting access to digital distractions, we are supporting:
Improved academic focus and engagement
Positive peer interactions and school connectedness
Challenging Social Issues
A more respectful, distraction-free environment for teaching and learning
This change at the start of the school year reflects the best of what we want for our Wiscasset students: stronger focus, greater connection, and learning environments rooted in respect and care. We are proud to take this critical step along with the majority of districts across the state and are grateful for your partnership in making it successful. More details on the policy and procedures for implementing the new cell phone ban will be shared over the next four weeks.
Thank you for your attention and partnership; we have so much to look forward to. But for now, enjoy these golden days of summer with your families and friends, Wiscasset. We will be ready for you to return in another month to embark on a new and exciting school year of growth and change for all learners. Onwards and upwards!
Dr. Kim Andersson
Superintendent of Schools