DIXFIELD – Students attending Dirigo High School will have two new opportunities to learn more about themselves and their world thanks to action taken by the school board Monday night.

Board members overwhelmingly approved a new chapter of the Future Business Leaders of America and an international club.

Spanish teacher Amity Beane and French teacher John Glaus made the case for organizing an international club.

“I see this as a service organization, not a tourist club, but a chance to change the world,” said Beane.

This school year, Dirigo High School enrollment includes five exchange students. Glaus and Beane believe many of the students in their French and Spanish classes will be interested, as well as others.

“The club will be a chance for students to learn about the cultures of the world,” said Beane.

Student Tristan Franchetti said the club will learn about national and international business and do community service. Kristen Harvey said the organization can help students prepare to go out into the world.

Grants coordinator Kathrine Harvey and three students gave a presentation to support forming a Future Business Leaders of America chapter.

Harvey said some after-school program grant money can be used to offset membership fees and the club charter cost, as well as help pay for a trip to the FBLA conference in Washington, D.C., in November.

She said the group will eventually start some kind of business, as well as approach local businesses for sponsorship.

Also on Monday, Superintendent Tom Ward said opening day saw an enrollment of 943 students, down slightly from last year’s 978 students. He said an unusually high number of students who moved into the district helped account for the enrollment figures. The new elementary school in Peru had the highest enrollment with 364, Dirigo Middle School has 239, and Dirigo High School has 340.

The board also elected officers for the year. All were re-elected to their positions. Chairman Ben McCollister of Canton and Vice-Chairwoman Barbara Chow of Dixfield topped the slate of officers.

Ward announced that an official ribbon-cutting for Dirigo Elementary School will take place on Oct. 2.