RUMFORD – Including the Jobs for Maine Graduates program in the curriculum could decrease the dropout rate at Mountain Valley High School and provide self-confidence for students at risk.
That was the message Craig Larrabee, president of the state program, delivered to the SAD 43 board Monday night.
His presentation was part of the district’s budget review process.
Larrabee said 2,500 teenagers in the state now take part in the program, which offers assistance in academics, social and leadership skills; financial literacy; and job retention skills.
If the board should decide to include the program in the budget for next year, the cost to the district would be $40,000 for the first year, and lesser amounts in future years. A specialist from the program would work with between 40 and 45 high school students, Larrabee said.
According to materials in the informational packet, if SAD 43 should adopt such a program, it would be the first in Oxford County to do so. Districts closest to Rumford that offer the program are in Turner, Livermore Falls, Farmington and Lewiston.
Mountain Valley High Principal Matt Gilbert said he’s looking for ways to increase student aspirations and to help students who are struggling or at risk.
The board will decide whether to include a teacher-certified position from the program when it begins paring down requests by each of the district’s administrators.
That is expected to happen at a special workshop March 27.
Superintendent Jim Hodgkin said the board will get its first look at the total gross budget at the board’s next regular meeting, on March 20. He said he expects it to be about $14.7 million.
“That is a 6 percent increase and is not acceptable,” he told the board. “We want to get a figure you’ll vote on at the April 3 meeting.”
He said he has learned that the district will receive about $1.4 million more in state aid to education than it received during the current year. This includes about $101,000 designated to bring all teachers up to a $30,000 annual salary.
District voters approved a $13,975,000 operating budget last year.
In other matters, after a 45-minute discussion and series of votes, the majority of the board approved a new job description for a school psychological examiner that requires state certification but not a master’s degree in special education. The district has one school psychological examiner and is considering hiring a second one.
The board also approved a job description for an assistant director of special services.
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