June 25, 2021

Dear Students, Staff and Families,

I want to thank you all for your support and understanding during this unprecedented pandemic.  All of the school related routines that have been established for years and years were turned upside down.  We had to make decisions on the fly that we never had to make before.  Regardless of these challenges, our school leaders did a remarkable job of quickly responding and adapting to every new hurdle put in front of them.  I am pleased and impressed with each of our administrators and their staff for doing an exemplary job over the last 15 months. 

Thanks also to our students who have had to be mindful of social distancing and mask wearing every day they have been in school.  It has not been easy for them and their teachers.  Wearing a mask when the heat and humidity is high is incredibly uncomfortable.  It is hard to teach and it’s hard to learn under the circumstances.  Thank you for persevering during this difficult time.  Hopefully, we will be back to normal for the start of the new school year.

On another note, there will be a lot of facilities work taking place in the district over the next few years.  This work will create some challenges as well.  Uprooting our classrooms and moving to a different building is no easy task.  We recognize the inconvenience this has presented to the high school teachers who have been teaching in the Trans Building and the Cumberland Hill students and staff who will be relocated to the Trans Building for the 2021-2022 school year.  We acknowledge that this is not easy.  Your patience and understanding will be challenged once again.  However, you will be pleased when the work is completed and you are able to see the final product.  

Finally, as I have said many times over these last few weeks, I want you all to know that it has been my honor to be the superintendent of the Cumberland School Department.  I have been privileged to work with people who care very strongly about the quality of education in their town.  Thanks to everyone for the kind words, cards, notes, and emails you have shared with me.  I will be forever grateful.

Warmest regards,

Robert A. Mitchell 

Superintendent of Schools 

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