OXFORD – The SAD 17 school board chose West Paris representative Dale Piirainen by a 9-7 vote to replace Ron Kugell as chairman Monday.

Kugell, representative from Oxford, has been on the board for 20 years and chairman for the past five years.

“I would appreciate serving as this board’s chairman because frankly, I find what we do really exciting,” Piirainen said before the vote. “We have an excellent administration, excellent staff and excellent programs, but I think we can improve and it’s our job to improve them.”

Piirainen has been on the board for six years and vice chairman for one year.

Five of the board members were not present for the vote and Walt Schroeder, from Harrison, abstained from voting.

Kugell asked for a weighted vote, which Piirainen also won by a count of 409 to 380.

In a weighted vote, each representative’s vote is assigned a numerical value based on population of the town he/she represents.

Members of the finance committee were also chosen. They are Piirainen, as required by board policy, Kugell, Don Gouin, representing Norway, and William Hanger, representing Waterford.

The Maine Vocational Region 11 board was also chosen. Members are: Martha Denison of Harrison; Dottie Millett of Oxford; Gouin; and Chris Charlton, Dave Sutton and John Poto, current Region 11 board members.

High school activities

Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School Principal Joseph Moore told board members that a nationally known speaker has been contracted to come to the school on Aug. 20 during the evening to speak to athletes and their parents on alcohol and substance abuse problems.

He said some details had to be worked out, but the meeting would be mandatory for athletes and one parent.

Board member Kerry Halterman of Oxford said he had a problem with the school using the term mandatory when this type of meeting was not board policy.

Moore said that in light of events involving alcohol and athletes he thought the school should be pro-active in dealing with issues before they became problems.

He said there were plans to possibly videotape the event so those unable to attend could view the tape at a later date.

“We will have an option in that any athlete who cannot attend should contact their coach or athletic director,” Moore said.

The board also awarded two contracts as recommended by the finance committee.

The elevator service contract was given to Stanley Elevator Co. Inc., which was the lowest bidder at $1,960. The contract requires the district’s nine elevators to be serviced four times per year.

A contract to install new phone systems in the Guy E. Rowe Elementary School in Norway and the Harrison Elementary School was awarded to Communications Techniques of Oxford, who had the lowest bid of $15,675.

Carryover confirmed

Business Manager Cathy Fanjoy reported that there was $141,916 in funds from the 2002-03 budget that will be marked as unallocated carryover.

The carryover funds were budgeted, but not spent.

“It takes about three weeks after end of fiscal year for all the bills to come in and salaries to be accrued,” Fanjoy said. “The additional carryover can’t be spent. It has to be put forward to to 2004-2005.”

The district can only spend the amount of money approved at the budget referendum vote, unless additional spending is approved at a special vote of the eight towns comprising SAD 17.

Fanjoy also told the board that the refinancing of two outstanding bond issues would not save any money for the district.

She said it was good news for taxpayers because of the lower interest payments for the state.

“Since both of these bond issues were for projects that were completely funded by the state, our district will see a decrease in our payments,” Fanjoy said. “But, will also receive an equivalent decrease in our state debt service subsidy. Had these two issues been partially locally funded we would have received a rebate check.”

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