RUMFORD – The SAD 43 board set a special meeting for Oct. 30 to hear a presentation by the Region 9 vocational school board on its planned renovation and expansion project.

The action followed an update on the project provided to the board Monday night by Superintendent Jim Hodgkin. Hodgkin and the superintendents from SAD 44 and SAD 21 have been working with Region 9 administrators on the renovation and expansion proposal.

The vocational school wants to make repairs, come into code compliance and build an addition that would allow for two more programs at an estimated total cost of $4.9 million.

SAD 43 board member Jeff Sterling, who also sits on the Region 9 board, encouraged board members to tour the vocational facility prior to the special meeting.

“What is talked about at that meeting will be clear,” he said. “We have one of the best programs in the state but with one of the worst facilities. What you’ll see is amazing stuff.”

Also invited to the special informational meeting on the Region 9 project are selectmen from SAD 43’s four member towns and anyone from the general public.

Hodgkin said that several options were explored by Region 9 before deciding to go ahead with the expansion. But Region 9 administration and the three sending school superintendents decided that renovating and adding to the existing site held the best chance of voter approval.

SAD 43 board member and former Region 9 board member Ed Flynn said regional voters have defeated spending proposals for the school three times in the past.

The special session begins at 6:30 p.m. in Room 302 of the high school.

In other matters on Monday, the board:

• granted an unpaid leave of absence for kindergarten teacher Lynn Newell.

• appointed former educational technician Melissa Knauer to a special education teaching position at Meroby Elementary School.

• learned that Rumford Elementary School has nearly 300 pupils enrolled; the school’s principal, Anne Chamberlin, said enrollment at the beginning of the school year was 270 pupils, and is now 297.

• learned of a parent forum at Mountain Valley High School at 6:30 p.m., Oct. 24; the forum will help families understand the new standards-based grading system.

The board also entered into three closed sessions, totaling 45 minutes, to discuss personnel matters.