MEXICO – The Region 9 Cooperative board on Tuesday gave the go-ahead to advertise for an architect to design a possible addition to the vocational school.

If the addition is approved by referendum in March, it would be funded with a no-interest loan from a state Department of Education revolving loan fund, interim director Harvey Hayden said. Estimated costs are as high as $1 million. The loan would be for 10 years.

The expansion would allow one of the school’s programs to move from the basement. It would also provide sufficient space for adding one or two vocational programs.

Residents of the vocational region will also have a second referendum question. If approved, it would provide a number of repairs, building code updates and actions for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

That work would cost less than $500,000, and would also be funded by a no-interest Department of Education loan for 10 years.

Included are plans for building an elevator, replacing the roof and construction of walls between two of the vocational programs.

Hayden said the referendum questions are timed for March so that, if approved, construction could start in spring.

Residents will also vote on the vocational region’s proposed 2005-2006 operating budget.

Also, Hayden said he is meeting with the region’s newly appointed director, David Driscoll of Westbrook, on Monday.

The two will attend educational workshops in Augusta that day.