FREEPORT — The Durham-Freeport-Pownal school board adopted a $22.6 million budget Wednesday that is almost $86,000 less than the one rejected by voters recently.

The 2009-10 spending plan will be presented to voters in the three towns at 6 p.m. July 21 at Freeport High School. If they approve it, there will be a second vote to validate it.

The school system is currently operating under the new 2009-10 budget approved Wednesday night as mandated by state law.

Board members of Regional School Unit 5, which is the official name of the school system,  said their goals were:

• To create a lean budget based on the recommendations of the leaders of the three previously separate school systems;

• To invest in a curriculum director to focus on quality and efficiency of education and improve MEA scores while building 21st-century skills;

• To invest in 2.5 new teachers at the high school for math, social studies and English, and keep class enrollments close to the state average; and

• To build a more transparent and responsive business office while reducing staffing by half a position.