DIXFIELD — A Mountain Valley Middle School eighth-grader was readmitted to school after a 25-minute closed session by the Western Foothills Regional School Unit 10 board Monday night.

Superintendent Tom Ward said the boy was expelled in early September because of a fight with another middle school boy at the opening night of the Mountain Valley High School football season.

Whenever a student is expelled, he or she must complete a variety of requirements and maintain their schoolwork. Ward said the boy went “above and beyond” what is usually required.

The boy will re-enter school Monday. The vote to readmit him was unanimous.

In other matters on Monday, the board agreed to hire a part-time Maine Care coordinator to take responsibility for assuring that the district is reimbursed for certain special education costs. The new stipend position pays $2,500.

The part-time position may become half or full time in the future because of the complexity of the Maine Care reimbursement requirements, Ward said.

“We need someone totally immersed in this. (The position) would more than pay for itself,” he said Tuesday afternoon.

During the current school year, Ward said the district will be reimbursed about a half-million dollars for Maine Care eligible services.

The board also approved spending $5,000 for a Response to Intervention prekindergarten through grade 12 coordinator. This position, which was once a combined position of curriculum chairman in the Mountain Valley Region and literacy, will be responsible for trying to close the loopholes that some children may fall through in their math and literacy skills.

“This will improve student achievement and decrease dropout rates,” Ward said.

Not everyone was convinced that both stipended positions were in the best interest of the district.

“When we became an RSU, we were to slim down administration,” said Rumford representative Linda Westleigh.

Board member Brian Ross, Dixfield, said he wants to see the results of the RTI position.

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