MEXICO — The Region 9 School of Applied Technology board Wednesday overwhelmingly approved sending a $2,115,858 secondary budget and a $312,055 adult and community education budget to voters next month.
The proposed secondary budget reflects a $22,000 decrease from this year’s operating budget. In addition, about $58,000 in carryover funds will be applied. In the adult and community education budget, $168,968 will be paid by Region 9 member towns, with the remainder coming from student fees and grants.
Residents of the 16 member towns will make the final decision on both budgets at a districtwide meeting at 6:30 p.m. May 1 at the school.
RSU 10 representative Betty Barrett was the sole dissenting vote, because she believes the budgets could have come in lower. Barrett is also concerned about the possible eventual closure of the NewPage paper mill in Rumford.
“If something happens to that mill, are we going to come back and look at this budget?” she asked.
Also at Wednesday’s board meeting, members elected officers for the ensuing year and heard a presentation from several vocational students who attended the recent SkillsUSA Competition in Bangor.
Re-elected for another term as chairman was Newry resident and SAD 44 representative Norman Clanton. Also re-elected were Vice Chairman Kevin Kaulback over a second nominee, Frank DiConzo of Rumford, Melanie Babb as secretary and Director Brenda Gammon as treasurer.
Region 9 vocational students took more than 20 medals when they competed against more than 700 students from other vocational students around the state.
In other matters, the board:
* Approved sending 14 students and three chaperons to Houlton on May 8-10 to compete in the annual wood harvesting/forestry meet.
* Learned that truck driving students will compete at the Dick Dolloff Memorial CDL/HEO Championship in Augusta on April 10.
* Learned that a group of elementary students visit the vocational school several days during the week to learn about the programs offered.
The annual Region 9 End of Year Awards Ceremony will take place at 6 p.m. May 29 at Mountain Valley High School in Rumford.
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- Region 9 board members Frank DiConzo, Bruce Ross and Paul Handlen greet five vocational students who competed at the SkillsUSA Competition last month. All the students who attended the board meeting Wednesday night were from Dirigo High School in Dixfield. They are: Samantha Cote, Torey Barnett, Jack Brown, Robbie Babb and Nick Dyke.
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