DIXFIELD — More than 300 people turned out Monday night at Dirigo High School for the second of three forums on use of Regional School Unit 10 buildings in the next 10 years.
Unlike last week’s forum held at Mountain Valley High School in Rumford, many of the results from table discussions didn’t necessarily show a preference for so-called Option 3, which would house all high school students from the Dirigo and Mountain Valley regions at the Rumford high school.
Option 3 would also educate all grade six to eight students at Dirigo High School in Dixfield.
Option 1 would send all Dirigo-region students in grades seven to 12 to Dirigo High School and all Mountain Valley-region students in grades seven to 12 to the Rumford high school.
Option 2 would send all Dirigo-region students in grades seven to 12 to Dirigo High School and all Mountain Valley-region students in grades seven to 12 to the Rumford high school.
The difference between Options 1 and 2 is in how the elementary grades would be housed.
All three options recommended closing Rumford Elementary School, Pennacook Learning Center, and the so-called Dirigo East building. Options 1 and 3 would close Mountain Valley Middle School in Mexico as well.
“All three options were favored by some in our group,” group leader and Dirigo High School Principal Michael Poulin said. “Some want to explore a fourth or fifth option.”
Brian Carrier’s group saw both advantages and disadvantages for all three options, while preferring Option 2.
A group led by Dirigo Elementary School Assistant Principal Crystal Duguay preferred Option 1.
Superintendent Craig King said the three forums — the third will be at Buckfield Junior-Senior High School on March 24 — is a tool for gathering public input in a time of transition for both the district and other rural schools in Maine.
All options would require renovations to one or more buildings, and do not affect the Nezinscot region of Buckfield, Hartford and Sumner because it has two schools that serve prekindergarten to sixth grade, and seven though 12th grade.
He said once all three forums are completed, the data will be documented and posted on the district’s website.
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