Farmington school board decreases quarantine requirements, amends COVID-19 policies

Changes reflect CDC and state education recommendations.

2021 — The Year in Review, Part I

The Franklin Journal looks back on a busy year full of ups and downs.

2021 – Year in Review in Photos, Part 1

2021 – Year in Review in Photos, Part 1

Looking back on 2021 in Franklin County through photographs from the Franklin Journal.

Farmington school threat deemed not credible

Mt. Blue Middle School student's comments lacked intent and plan, superintendent said.

RSU 9 receives grants for homeless students

The school board discussed outreach and services for homeless students with the Cape Cod Hill School Principal Lisa Sinclair, who is the district's federal homeless liaison. Sinclair said during the meeting she believes the district is doing a "good job" of identifying housing-insecure youth due to a correlation between the district and statewide percentages of its homeless youth populations. However, studies show that the actual size of homeless youth populations are not captured by state figures — particularly for populations in rural areas.

Photos: Ski practice at Titcomb Mountain in Farmington

Members of the Mt. Blue High School Nordic Team and Mt. Blue High Middle School students on the Farmington Area Ski Team trained Tuesday.

Mt. Blue seeks community input on strategic planning for schools

Regional School Unit 9 began examining the future that parents, students and community members envision for the district in a survey and series of interviews.

Mt. Blue school district approves COVID-19 winter athletics policy

The Mt. Blue (RSU 9) Board of Directors approved a COVID-19 policy for participation in winter athletics. The policy includes mandates for universal pool testing and universal masking for indoor sports — which is a departure from an initial draft that allowed students to shed masks while actively practicing or competing.

Mt. Blue school district fall-term COVID cases exceed 2020-21 total

As positive COVID-19 cases increase in the Mt. Blue school district and Franklin County, the Board of Directors chose to keep the current COVID-19 safety guidelines in place at their Nov. 23 meeting.