RUMFORD – The SAD 43 board on Monday unanimously voted to lend more than 200 artifacts from the former high schools in Rumford and Mexico to three area nonprofit organizations.
Superintendent Jim Hodgkin said Tuesday that the trophies, banners, plaques and other items that once graced the halls of Rumford High School and Mexico High School are being loaned to the Mexico Historical Society, the Rumford Historical Society and to Black Mountain of Maine.
Many of the artifacts, now stored at Mountain Valley High School, had been on display at the Penalty Box Restaurant in downtown Rumford. When the restaurant went out of business a few months ago, the artifacts were returned to the district.
Hodgkin said all items represent the schools prior to the merger in 1989.
He said the agreement with the three organizations is for two years at which time the board will revisit the matter to make sure the items are well cared for.
In other matters, the board discussed a proposed 2006-07 school calendar that could include an earlier starting day for some students and an increase in the number of early release days.
Hodgkin said the board will vote on whether to accept the calendar at the Jan. 17 meeting.
Proposed is a first day of school for early kindergarten through grade five, grade six and grade nine for Aug. 30. All other students would begin on Aug. 31.
He said the extra day for grades six and 12 is to allow transition time for those beginning middle and high school.
The number of early release days may be increased from five to seven to allow teachers to work on local assessments, or student grading. Report cards no longer use letter grades. Instead, students are graded according to how well they meet Maine Learning Results standards.
The board also accepted the resignation for the purpose of retirement at the end of the current year of Richard Nile, a third-grade teacher at Meroby Elementary School. Hodgkin said Nile has taught for 33 years.
Comments are no longer available on this story