FARMINGTON – After the school committee voted to readmit a Mt. Blue High School senior who had completed a suspension for a drug infraction, the board took a hard stand against a male freshman who recently telephoned a death threat to a unnamed high school teacher.

At Tuesday’s SAD 9 committee meeting, school attorney Ervin Snyder noted the unidentified student had called the teacher about 10 days previously, threatening, “You are dead. You are not getting out of this school alive on Monday.” The board unanimously voted to suspend the student for an indefinite period of time. Tutoring will be made available off-campus.

Chairman Dr. Raymond Glass addressed the student and his family, who had met with the board behind closed doors, saying, “People can change. Take advantage of the tutoring offered to you. We have often seen people come back making good progress. We hope to see you back in due time.” The circumstances surrounding the threat were not disclosed.

The MBHS Gay-Straight Alliance was approved as a club, but not without some controversy. Supt. Michael Cormier described the club, to be facilitated by teacher Crystal Bourget, as “a safe place for students to talk,” but board member Susan Black responded, “I am against any club that is based on a lifestyle.”

Board member Kristine Backus immediately responded, “As a board, we support all students’ lifestyles,” and was echoed by Jo Josephson. Board member Bob Flick worried about the safety of students identified as members of the club.

MBHS Principal Joseph Moore reassured the board by noting in other locations he never experienced any bad experiences with a gay-straight alliance.

“It is a safe haven – a place for safe discussions and to get some support from an adult who can provide some guidance,” he stressed. Board member Susan Keach noted a similar organization is at the University of Maine at Farmington. “We need to provide a place where kids can feel safe, supported and recognized,” she stressed.

The board finally approved the club by an 11-2 vote, with Susan Black and Neil Stinneford opposed.

In other discussions, the board approved some routine policies but agreed to send an extracurricular eligibility policy back to the policy committee after citizen Dick Morton questioned sections that call for up to a one-year suspension from sports and other extracurricular activities for students who commit “criminal acts” and are “knowingly present” at any gathering where illegal substances are present. He complained this policy language is too vague and could be used unfairly, when there are many transgressions that are not determined to be criminal under the law for minors.

In a discussion on a policy concerning booster groups, it was stressed that no fundraising activities will be conducted within the school during school hours by the group.

In other action, the board approved two-year contract extensions for Joseph Moore, high school principal; Scott Walker, athletic director; Todd Demmons, athletic director/assistant principal; Angel Allen, district technology director; Tracy Douglass, Mallett School principal; and Darlene Paine, Wilton Elementary principal. Supt. Cormier also announced the hiring of Barbara Averill as an education technician at Cascade Brook School.

Because of uncertainties with school consolidation initiatives, Supt. Cormier said he as yet has “no clue” on the financial impact of the budget, noting Gov. Baldacci has built in his proposed school budget cuts into the overall state budget. He asked board members to suggest items for the local budget. Among those already identified are physical education and accreditation activities at the high school. The budget will retain an ed tech at the high school library, which allows it to be open to the public until 5 p.m. Cormier noted joint purchasing initiatives have been successful among a consortium of school districts in paper, fuel oil and other purchase.

He has asked the state if it is possible to allow vocational students from four sending schools to tuition for one class per day at Mt. Blue.