MEXICO — Residents of the 12 member towns of the Region 9 School of Applied Technology will have a chance to vote on the $2.09 million secondary budget and $275,876 adult and community education budget at 6:30 p.m. May 11 at the River Road school.

The proposed secondary budget for 2011-12 is up about 2.5 percent from the current fiscal year, while the adult education budget is up about 3 percent.

The primary reason for the increase in the secondary budget is the addition of a new fire science program. Region 9 Director Brenda Gammon said about five applications have been received for the instructor position.

She said the board will begin interviews after a new budget is adopted

Regional fire departments have agreed to provide support for the new program, including a significant amount of equipment to be used for the new class, which is scheduled to begin at the start of the new school year.

Students have also shown interest in receiving training so that they may serve as firefighters in their hometowns.

Also figuring into the budget increase are $500 raises for each staff member and higher health insurance premiums.

Although the adult education budget is also up, member towns will not see an increase in their shares because of additional grant money.

The board also plans to carry over about $65,000 from last year’s secondary budget to apply to 2011-12.

Region 9 serves students from Dirigo High School in Dixfield and Mountain Valley High School in Rumford. Both are part of Western Foothills Regional School Unit 10. Region 9 also serves high school students from several unaffiliated towns as well as those from SAD 44 in Bethel.

eadams@sunjournal.com

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