SAD 9’s consolidation plan grew slightly Tuesday night. Very slightly.

The Board of Directors elected to add Highland Plantation in Somerset County to its recently approved plan.

Highland Plantation, which borders Carrabassett Valley to the west, has a student population of eight. Seven of them attend SAD 58 schools.

SAD 58 and Coplin Plantation are also SAD 9’s desired reorganization partners. SAD 9 includes nine towns in southern Franklin County. SAD 58 includes five towns in the central part of the county.

The state requested the districts to consider adding Highland Plantation and Carrabassett Valley. Highland Plantation contacted the three school systems hoping they would consider the state’s request.

“They would like to be part of the system,” said SAD 9 Superintendent Michael Cormier. “They would like to feel they have a voice.”

Cormier also stated that while he has not run the figures specifically, adding Highland Plantation would not adversely affect the plan financially.

Directors voted unanimously to include Highland Plantation in their future plans.

Carrabassett Valley’s superintendent, however, has been instructed by his directors to take no action regarding consolidation; they plan to stand alone.

Cormier also presented a plan for funding architectural services for two upcoming renovation projects. The $564,000 cost, all of which will be refunded by the state subject to voter approval, is too much to be borrowed on short-term notes. Cormier has frozen budgets for classroom teachers, except for emergency situations, and would like to use surpluses in staff adjustments, debt refinancing, district textbook funds, and a contingency budget, along with $100,000 originally budgeted for the projects, to generate $400,000. Since not all of the projects will go to voters this year, not all of the $564,000 will be due.

Directors were leery of the freeze on classroom spending.

“I hate to see the freeze on accounts for teachers,” said Mark Prentiss of Industry, “They’re pretty bare-bones to begin with.”

Ann Yorks, a teacher and administrator for SAD 9 for 34 years, agreed. “The teachers are already paying a lot out of their pockets. I’m concerned especially for the tech center. This could be paralyzing,” she said.

Yvette Robinson of Farmington suggested that some athletic spending be frozen. She highlighted the fact that classroom cuts effect every student, while athletics represent only a portion of the student population. “I feel as though there is favoritism on what is being cut,” she said.

Cormier was confident the freeze would not adversely effect classroom production. “If people have a real need, all they need to do is ask,” he said, adding he has already waived the freeze on two different occasions.

The board will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 22, in the Mount Blue High School Library in Farmington.