MEXICO – The Region 9 School of Applied Technology board welcomed newly hired director David Driscoll Tuesday night, then held one of its longest meetings ever.

At the top of the agenda were approvals that will kick off the region’s plan to bring the school into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and to build an addition onto the River Road school.

But first, said Driscoll, the region agreed to hire M.E. McCormick Consultants of Dexter to assess the the school’s facilities at a cost of $1,223, with half the cost to be reimbursed by the state.

He said all schools in the state must undergo a facilities assessment as part of a plan to ensure that all schools are properly maintained.

The assessment should be done quickly, he said, because of the region’s plan to seek money from the state’s revolving loan fund to install an elevator and make other changes to the existing school building, and to build a six-room addition onto the building.

The board approved going with a construction-manager process for both jobs rather than with the more traditional designer-bid-builder process.

Driscoll said two general contractors will be interviewed next month for the projects, which are expected to cost a total of about $1.5 million.

He said the change was made to try to save money.

The new way of construction is also encouraged by the state, he said.

Region 9 voters will have their say on the two projects during a referendum vote in March.

The addition would likely lead to adding one or two more vocational programs. Driscoll said he plans to meet with the superintendents of the sending schools, to discuss what those programs might be.

In other matters on Tuesday, Driscoll said he plans to review a number of regional policies for possible change.

One, he said, is a periodic evaluation of teaching staff.

Apparently, he said, no regular evaluations have been in place for many years.

“Teachers deserve to know how they are doing,” he said.

He said, too, that he will likely propose some changes to the region’s policy on student discipline. He said he will look at similar policies from the region’s sending schools as part of his research.

Driscoll’s job was officially designated as director and business manager. He received a contract through June 2006, at a salary of $65,000 annually. He will also oversee the adult and community education program.