MOUNT DESERT – Calling all parents and other residents who have time to volunteer for the Mount Desert Elementary School!

Classes are being held at five different buildings while the construction continues on the school.

Volunteers are especially needed for recess periods and crosswalk supervision, Principal Scott McFarland said Thursday.

“We need as many people at crosswalks as possible,” McFarland said.

A forum on Wednesday evening attracted 40 to 50 parents, McFarland said. School leaders reviewed again how the first few weeks of the school year would proceed while contractors finish work on the MDES.

The work was supposed to be finished by mid-August, in plenty of time for the start of the school year on Sept. 2, but the contractor is running behind and it could be three months before the school can be occupied.

All other Union 98 students began school on Tuesday, but MDES pupils won’t start until Monday, Sept. 8.

MDES pupils will take classes at the Neighborhood House, the Northeast Harbor Library, St. Mary’s Episcopal Church winter chapel, the Union Street Church and the so-called Wright building at 3 Summit Drive.

McFarland and others were busy Thursday moving equipment and materials to the classroom locations around the village.

McFarland said parents were in “great spirits and very supportive” of the school staff during the Wednesday evening forum at the Neighborhood House.

Jan Irvin, a member of the school’s parent-teacher organization, has offered to coordinate the volunteers.

“Most people are willing to do something,” she said, noting that about 70 people volunteered last year for different responsibilities – sometimes just baking desserts for bake sales.

This fall, however, extra help will be needed to escort pupils to the various locations for classroom and extracurricular activities.

“We need people to help out wherever they can, but I don’t have anyone who’s committed yet, and we need to know because school starts Monday,” Irvin said.

Irvin sent an e-mail Wednesday to last year’s volunteer crew. She asks parents and other people how they would like to help and then compiles lists to be distributed schoolwide so teachers and coaches will know who is available.

Anyone with an interest in helping with chores and events is asked to call Irvin at 244-5669.