SUMNER – Mountain region, Dirigo region, and Valley region are the new designations of the school districts that make up the newly formed Western Foothills School District.

The names were in frequent use Tuesday night when the Western Foothills School District board continued working to develop a budget for 2009-10 and combining the three districts’ school calendars.

The districts – Mountain for SAD 43, based in Rumford-Mexico, Dirigo for SAD 21, based in Dixfield, and Valley for SAD 39, based in Buckfield, will cease as legal educational entities on June 30. The new district becomes official July 1 as Regional School Unit 10. The unaffiliated town of Hanover is also a part of it.

The goal is to devise a budget that’s less than the combined totals of the three districts individually. For school year 2008-2009, that total was $34.2 million, broken down to: SAD 43, $15.4 million budget for its 1,399 student enrollment; SAD 21, $11.5 million for its 965 students, and SAD 39, $7.32 million for its 640 students. The new district, as of April, will educate more than 3,000 students.

Foothills Superintendent Tom Ward said a savings of about $350,000 is being realized because of the elimination of almost seven full-time equivalent central office positions, and consolidating administrative offices into one location. However, he said labor contracts already have about $1 million in added spending built in.

During two meetings in March, and one so far in April, the board listened to budget presentations by each department and school. That process will continue at 6:30 p.m. April 14 at Dirigo High School, with a proposed budget ready for board action on April 28.

Residents of the 12 towns will vote in a meeting June 4, then the final number agreed upon will be validated at referendum June 9.

At Tuesday’s board meeting, Ward said he has also begun to work with a state consultant on a strategic plan for the district.

The board also outlined a plan for hiring a principal for Meroby Elementary School in Mexico. Longtime Principal Scott Drown submitted his resignation effective at the end of the school year.