POLAND – The school resource officer at Poland Regional High School is no longer on the cutting block after the Regional School Unit 16 board voted to keep the position.

Androscoggin County Sheriff Guy Desjardins told the board Tuesday night that he intends to apply for a grant using economic stimulus money set aside for law enforcement to fund the position.

Desjardins said that grant will pay salary and benefits for a trained officer, at entry level, for three years. He added that if an experienced officer fills the position it could cost the school as much as $10,000 a year and the school would be obligated to continue the officer in the school program a fourth year.

Faced with an April 14 deadline to submit the grant application, Desjardins appealed for an immediate decision.

“I already told the superintendent that I would oppose this cut,” Chairman Dave Griffiths said.

Superintendent Dennis Duquette offered no objections. “This information changes my mind on elimination.”

The board took its action after assurances that if the Sheriff’s Department doesn’t receive the grant, the school won’t be obliged to keep the position.

The school resource officer position is one of 24 identified for elimination in next year’s proposed budget.

The board also discussed four other jobs on the elimination list that board members are on the fence about: A half guidance position at Whittier Middle School, the Latin program at the high school, a special ed team leader at the high school, and a second technical integrator for grades K-8, districtwide.

The board will bring the four positions up for a vote at its next meeting at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 15, at the Poland Regional High School library.

The board will approve the final $18 million 2009-10 budget when it meets at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 28, also in the school library.

The new school system for the towns of Mechanic Falls, Minot and Poland begins its operations July 1, the day after School Union 29 closes down.