DIXFIELD — Residents of the three regions that make up Western Foothills Regional School Unit 10 will have a chance next week to hear an explanation of the proposed $33.4 million school year 2010-11 operating budget and ask any questions they may have about it.

Each hearing begins at 6 p.m.

On Tuesday, May 25, residents of Buckfield, Hartford and Sumner will hear the presentation by Superintendent Tom Ward at the former SAD 39 central office, which is on the second floor of the Buckfield Town office.

On Wednesday, May 26, the Dirigo region residents of Dixfield, Peru, Canton and Carthage will hear a similar presentation at Dirigo Middle School.

The Mountain Valley region residents of Mexico, Rumford, Byron, Roxbury and Hanover will have their chance at the Mexico Town Hall.

The districtwide budget vote is scheduled for 6 p.m., June 3, at Dirigo High School. That vote will then be acted on at referendum in each of the member towns on June 8.

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The proposed budget is down about $800,000 from the current year’s operating budget of $34.2 million. About 20 positions were eliminated, with most not requiring cutting actual people because of retirements, attrition and restructuring of the educational program.

Ward said he will distribute handouts on the proposed budget, which includes 21 articles, describe each and field any questions. He will also discuss the impact of carryover monies most towns were credited with when the former SAD 21, SAD 39 and SAD 43 merged last year.

In addition to the several articles that comprise the proposed budget, residents will learn about proposals to replace two school buses, funds for the Buckfield adult education program, the Region 9 adult education program, the secondary vocational program at Region 11 and the school unit’s share of the Oxford Hills Technical School adult education budget.

Students from the Buckfield region attend vocational training at Region 11 while students from the Mountain Valley and Dirigo regions attend such classes at Region 9 in Mexico.

eadams@sunjournal.com


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