Newport-based Regional School Unit 19 announced Monday that it will welcome back middle and high school students for increased in-person learning later this month.

In a letter to the community, RSU 19 Superintendent Michael Hammer outlined the plan to bring middle and high school students back to four days per week of in-person learning.

“We are planning to have the students return to in-person learning four days a week in the middle/high school,” Hammer wrote. “Based on the responses to our survey, we believe that we can bring those students, who indicated the desire, back safely for a pilot period.”

Nokomis High School students will transition to increased in-person learning March 15. Nokomis Regional Middle School students will start the transition March 22.

“The pilot period will be extended as long as we can all practice a safe return to school and that we don’t experience an outbreak of Covid 19 among staff and students,” Hammer wrote.

WATERVILLE

Waterville Junior High School Principal Carole Gilley informed the community Sunday evening that an individual associated with the school tested positive for COVID-19.

This is the second time the district reported cases over the weekend. Three Waterville schools reported positive cases Friday afternoon.