MEXICO – Three students who earned medals at last month’s statewide vocational school competition in Bangor will talk about their experiences at the monthly Region 9 School of Applied Technology board meeting Tuesday.

The meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. in the conference room of the River Road school. A Finance Committee meeting of the board will precede the regular meeting at 6:30 p.m.

Three boys took second-place medals in computer networking, precision metal machinery and building trades at a Vocational and Industrial Clubs of America competition.

The board is expected to approve a secondary 2004-05 operating budget of $1,053,444 and an adult education budget of $213,354. Both proposed budgets are up about 5 percent from the current year’s approved figures. Voters will have their say on May 18.

Region 9 Director Deborah Guimont said the budget increases were caused by salary hikes for staff and by a significant jump in their liability, vehicle and building insurance premiums.

The reappointments of Peru representative Wayne Thurston and SAD 43 representative Marlene Gile will be considered.

During this annual reorganizational meeting, officers for the upcoming year will be elected and board’s subcommittees members will be appointed.

In other matters, Guimont said action will be taken on adoption of a calendar for school year 2004-05. The proposed calendar is aligned with the vocational school’s member districts.

Also, Guimont will present her annual report, the schedule of board meetings for the next year will be acted upon and a night will be set to honor area employers who have given vocational students a chance to work. The board will act on requests by forestry students and truck driving students to attend overnight trips to Orono and Dexter for competitions next month.
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