LIVERMORE FALLS – Directors of SAD 36 were pleased Tuesday night to learn that the district had received a check for $36,339.26 from the Maine Municipal Bond Bank, the district’s prorated portion of the savings from the bank’s recent refinancing of bonds.

Since the district can use the refund for any public purpose, directors voted to set it aside in a capital improvement fund.

News of a second refund was also welcomed, this one for $9,488 from the state Department of Education for having converted leased space. The central office was moved from leased space in the bank building to the recently renovated Cedar Street Complex. The annual payment should continue through 2008.

Under the preliminary estimates for General Purpose Aid, SAD 36 is scheduled to receive nearly $600,000 more from the state in 2005-06 than it received in the 2004-05 year.

Projections for 2006-07 show the district receiving $1,192,034 more than 2004-05. Of that increased aid, 90 percent is to go for property tax relief. Superintendent Terry Despres noted that final action on the changes should come on Feb. 19.

He said he feels the district fared well under the distribution, and attributed it to having aligned its operation over the past two years with the Essential Programs and Services model, on which the state is basing its subsidies.

All those working on committees for the proposed building project are invited to a joint meeting at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 19, at the Cedar Street complex. The public is also invited. A public meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Jan. 24 at the high school on the single-run busing system, which went into effect after Thanksgiving recess.

Despres said the district is still working on a couple problems but that, in general, the drivers are pleased and the discipline is very good. Some changes have been made in seating, and older children are helping the younger ones, he said. He also feels this system is providing much better use of staff.

At 6 p.m. Jan. 25, three seniors from Livermore Falls High School will graduate from the firefighters course at Foster Regional Vocational Center. They are Curtis Barnett, Charles Lake and Cassandra Purrington.

In other business, the board heard a presentation from Jeannine Backus on the English language arts kindergarten-through-grade-12 curriculum, approved a contract with the Fayette School Department, adopted job descriptions for food service employees, and reviewed the Adult Education Program policy.