LIVERMORE FALLS — The beginning of the new school year later this month will be the second year secondary students from both Jay’s and Livermore Falls’ high school campuses will be attending classes at Spruce Mountain High School in Jay.

“This is the second year of consolidation. We are the established Phoenix,” SMHS Principal T.J. Plourde said.

The high school will see few changes this year, following last year’s bringing together of all secondary students.

For the first time, when graduation rolls around in June, only one valedictorian, one salutatorian and one group of Top 10 students will receive special recognition.

Plourde also plans for the stone monuments that have designated the former Jay and Livermore Falls high schools to be posted prominently in front of the Phoenix sign at SMHS.

RSU 73 has a new superintendent, Kenneth Healey, Livermore Elementary School has a new principal, Kevin Harrington, and the high school has two new guidance counselors. Virtually all staff positions have been filled in time for the start of the new school year.

Healey said the district will continue its development of standards-based education for all students. The district also has a new website that is more timely and filled with more information. The address is still http://rsu73.org.

Other changes include a move by Spruce Mountain Adult and Community Education from the former LFHS into the Central Office building on Cedar Street in Livermore Falls.

Healey said soon after the beginning of 2015, the board will likely take action on permanently closing the former high school. It will then be offered to the town of Livermore Falls.

If the town has no interest in it, then he said both the former LFHS and former Livermore Falls Middle School, which was closed several years ago, will be put on the market.

The prekindergarten program, which has been housed at the Cedar Street Central Office, will relocate to Jay and Livermore elementary schools. The district will provide transportation for the children, but the programs will be operated by Head Start and Community Concepts.

Healey, who is in his first superintendency, said he wants to learn as much as he can to become a better superintendent.

“I want to make the right decisions for kids,” he said.

Since he began his duties last month, Healey has visited all district buildings, met with the public and met many of the staff.

Aug. 27 and Aug. 28 will be workshop days for teaching staff. The morning of Aug. 28 will also be a time for orientation for SMHS freshmen.

All students will return to classes on Sept. 2.

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