LIVERMORE FALLS – SAD 36 directors decided Thursday not to require juniors to take a life skills course as a graduation requirement beginning in the next school year.

Directors voted 8-2 to keep a “Life After Livermore Falls High School” course as an elective, as it is now, Vice Chairman Fred Nadeau said Monday.

Opposing that motion were directors Denise Rodzen of Livermore Falls and Cindy Young of Livermore. Director Mac Haynes abstained.

High school Principal Shawn Lambert had proposed the semester-long new family and consumer science graduation requirement focused on helping students survive after high school in February.

The class would not have increased the 24-credit graduation requirement, Lambert had told the board, but would have replaced one of several electives students have the option of taking.

The course’s focus was on decision-making, money-management, renting, buying a used auto, types of insurance, clothing care/basic sewing and meal planning.

Nadeau said the board’s consensus was that making the course mandatory would have limited students’ options.

“The real sentiment was that we have so many required courses right now, adding one more would limit students’ ability to take elective courses,” Nadeau said.

Lambert was unavailable for comment Monday.