RUMFORD – A survey administered last spring to students in grades 3-12 found that ninth-graders need more transitional support and that district teachers are highly regarded, among other results.

Curriculum Coordinator Gloria Jenkins unveiled preliminary results from a survey, which measures student attitudes and aspirations, at the SAD 43 board meeting Monday night.

“The questions about teachers resulted in positive comments, but students were less complimentary about each other,” said Jenkins.

The survey came from the National Center for Student Aspirations at the University of Maine in Orono, and will be used as a planning tool to improve student programs by the district’s Advisory Team for the Superintendent.

Jenkins said students in ninth grade were less eager to learn, and felt less respected and more picked on than any other grade level.

“We really need to pay attention to ninth-graders,” she said.

Other preliminary results included a higher percentage of girls than boys who saw the value of going onto college, more girls who were hopeful toward the future, and incidents of bullying by one student toward another.

Monica Chenard, a senior who attended Monday’s board meeting as part of a government class assignment, said a civil rights team recently organized at the high school aims to decrease students’ disrespect for each other.

“We believe in everyone being equal, and that no one should be degraded,” she said.

Sam Colton, another senior attending the meeting, said she was pleased to have a chance to give her opinion on the survey.

In other matters Monday, the board heard reports from John Bernard, the district’s first full-time athletic director.

He said sports participation is up, and called for the creation of a junior varsity soccer team at the middle school.

“The numbers are up in every sport at the high school, from cheering to football,” he said.

About 144 high school students out of 595 are involved in sports, he said.

Mountain Valley alternative education program teachers Steve McGinty and Marsha Burns presented their annual report as well. The program is directed at students who are at risk for failing to graduate.

The program for 20 secondary students is housed at the the Mexico Recreation Center.

The resignations of high school French teacher Maureen Goudreau, and Day Treatment Program educational technician Richard Gordon were accepted. Bethany MacDonald was hired as special education educational technician at Mountain Valley Middle School.

A closed session followed the regular meeting to discuss the superintendent’s annual evaluation.