FARMINGTON – SAD 9 directors unanimously approved a nearly $24 million budget Tuesday night and approved moving the central office from New Sharon to Farmington.

The 2008-09 spending plan is $47,000 less than this year’s.

The office move to a more central location in the nine-town district was one of the first items of business at the board’s meeting in Mt. Blue High School library.

“My concern is that we would move to the middle school and then have to move again in a year” due to consolidation, William Reid of New Sharon said.

The motion passed, with the cost capped at approximately $39,000.

An earlier motion to cut the technical integrator positions, also known as technical assistants, who tutor SAD 9 teachers on computer equipment and programs, from four and a half to two was also brought back to the table. Although the cut would provide a budget for new computer equipment and programs for the district, some worried that the loss of the two assistants would be detrimental to the teachers in need.

The motion was amended to cut one position, but failed.

Other failed motions included reinstating a full health teaching position, and cutting another $8,000 on top of the $22,000 already cut from the athletic budget.

The next board meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 6, in the high school library.