WATERVILLE -- Teachers from Waterville's sister city of Kotlas, in Russia, will focus on how American public schools operate during their visit here in early December.

The Kotlas Connection, which sponsors educational and cultural programs between the sister cities, will host the delegation of five educators.

The Russians will spend three days in Washington, D.C., and then travel to Maine on Dec. 5. Host families from the Kotlas Connection will house the delegates.

The teachers will visit schools and meet with their Waterville peers and administrative staff. They also will meet with Mayor Paul LePage to get a sense of the role that city government plays in the operation and financing of city schools.

On Dec. 9, the Kotlas Connection and friends will meet their teacher guests at a luncheon to be catered by the community group REM at the Forum on Main Street.

The luncheon, at 11:30 a.m., is open to anyone. The cost for the soup, salad and sandwich lunch will be $10. Anyone planning to attend should send a check to Kotlas Connection, c/o Carl Daiker, 316 Evergreen Drive, Waterville, ME 04901. The check must arrive by Dec. 1.

The Russians' trip is being funded through a grant from the Open World Program, authorized by Congress to bring community leaders to the United States, to observe democracy and free enterprise in action.

The Kotlas Connection's annual meeting is scheduled for 7 tonight, also at REM. Following a brief business meeting, John Engle and Gregor Smith will present a slide show about their trip to the Solovetsky Islands this past summer. Light refreshments will be provided.

For more information, call Carl Daiker at 873-6562.

Larry Grard -- 861-9239

lgrard@centralmaine.com