LIVERMORE FALLS – A dozen possible plans for athletic fields on the SAD 36 campus were distributed to the Board of Directors on Thursday.

The plans, from consultant Charles Ravis, show various configurations for fields to accommodate all sports including football, soccer, field hockey, baseball and softball. Some also include a track.

Superintendent Terry Despres told the board that choosing the best design and going ahead with the project will be a huge decision, one that will need major community input.

He also indicated his preference among the 12, noting that it would result in a full, multi-season sports complex. Despres said the project would have to be done in two phases and would be a two-year process. A Phase 3 is a possibility, he added.

Costs have not been established, Despres said, and the district will have to look for funding sources, “chasing revenues,” as he expressed it.

In other business, the board approved the Middle School mission statement, which was presented to them last month.

Along with the statement, the board approved a Principal’s Parent Advisory Council at the Middle School. This will consist of six to 10 parents from all three grade levels who will meet monthly to focus on current issues facing the school and concerns of the parents.

Basis rules of order will be utilized, participants will be recruited by administration and volunteers will be welcomed, the proposal states. The council will be used for brainstorming, getting the community involved and as a sounding board.

Project Graduation

Approval was given to the class of 2004 for its senior trip and for Project Graduation. The senior trip will be to Six Flags New England in Springfield, Mass., on May 28. The presentation stated that 51 of the 53 seniors had indicated their desire to go and that no student would be denied the opportunity because of financial need.

Project Graduation will be held at the Big Adventure Center in Bethel on Saturday, June 12, an all-night event from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. Seniors are planning to have a barbecue on arrival at the center and breakfast at school the next morning, both provided by parents.

Despres told the board about the proposal for ninth-graders to have laptops. If the state pays 55 percent of the cost and the district 45 percent, he would propose a lease program of $250 per unit per year, just over $15,000.

He indicated the proposal would not make a budgetary impact and the district would only have to transfer what it is spending now. The proposal would have the state carrying insurance and doing the major wiring needed.

The superintendent also reported on a recent meeting of the nutrition staff with the Nutrition Committee, saying it had good suggestions.

The drivers/custodians contract was signed and approval was given to a bus lease/purchase.

The board will not meet Feb. 26, as the Legislature has not completed its work on school funding so budget work locally cannot begin.

Instead, all were urged to attend the downtown planning meeting being held at 6:30 that night at Murray Hall.