Wiscasset's contrast to big city life makes it a good place to bring international exchange students, according to a Richmond woman seeking host families for ones who would attend Wiscasset High School.

Students from Spain, Finland, Egypt, Russia, France and Sweden were among those still awaiting placement at U.S. schools, said Jacki Medeiros, local coordinator for the Chicago-based CCI Greenheart.

Time is growing short to find and screen host families, Medeiros said August 16. Placements are supposed to be made by August 30.

“I'm pretty optimistic,” she said about the likelihood of securing families here.

Wiscasset High School Principal Deb Taylor hopes it works out. “I'm excited about the opportunity,” she said August 15. “It can really be valuable to all parties involved, the host family, the foreign student and the school community, because it provides us all with an opportunity to learn a culture and forge friendships with someone from another country.”

Unlike an unrelated program the high school missed out on last year for lack of host families, this one would not reap tuition for the Sheepscot Valley Regional School Unit; however, any student who comes will add to the student count that plays into state funding, District Superintendent Howard Tuttle said.

If interested in hosting a student, call Medeiros at 207-737-8790 or 207-841-4630, or email her at jackim8@gmail.com.

Not looking to commit to a whole school year of hosting? Medeiros said families are also needed to host short-term “homestays” for students on group trips to Maine.

Susan Johns can be reached at 207-844-4633 or susanjohns@wiscassetnewspaper.com