OXFORD — Starting Monday, some elementary school students from Harrison will attend Waterford Memorial School, and some from Waterford will be bused to Harrison Elementary School.

It’s a plan approved by the Oxford Hills School District directors this past spring to help reduce a budget deficit by about $95,000,

The plan calls for some prekindergarten and all kindergarten, first and second grade students from Waterford and Harrison to attend Waterford Elementary School.

Third-, fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders from Waterford and Harrison will attend Harrison Elementary School. The two upper grades have been attending the school for at least a year.

“We took two community schools and merged them,” Superintendent Rick Colpitts said.

This past spring, Waterford had about 80 kindergarten-through-fourth-grade students plus pre-kindergartners. Harrison had about 215 kindergarten-through-grade-six students, including Waterford’s fifth- and sixth-grade students.

Colpitts said the move this year has necessitated another big change.

“All the bus routes had to be reconfigured,” he said. Notices have been sent to all parents, and the new bus routes are on the school district’s website at http://www.sad17.k12.me.us./

Colpitts said anyone with questions should call the bus garage at 207-743-5621.

Monday is the start of the new school year for grades kindergarten through grade seven and grade nine.

Grades eight, 10, 11 and 12 will start classes Tuesday.

Colpitts said there are a few other major changes this year.

“We have a new special education director,” he said. Jane Morse was appointed to replace Tim Luft, who returned to Massachusetts to take a similar position in his hometown.

Of the total staff, about 25 are new to fill positions of those who retired or resigned.

Melanie Ellsworth remains principal of the West Paris and Hebron elementary schools; Kim Ramharter is principal at Oxford Elementary and Otisfield schools; Margaret Emery will be the Harrison and Waterford elementary schools’ principal; and George Sincerbeaux is principal at the Rowe Elementary School in Norway.

Troy Eastman is principal at Oxford Hills Middle School in Paris and Ted Moccia is principal at Oxford Hills High School, also in Paris.

Upcoming open houses at many of the schools can also be found on the school website.

The last day of school for 2012-13 is June 8, if all six snow days are used.

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