MEXICO — The Region 9 board at its meeting Wednesday night delayed appointing a fire science instructor until next month.

The board did sign a hot lunch contract and made some scheduling changes to accommodate students from two of the sending high schools.

A powerful storm with strong winds, lightning and heavy rain prevented some board members from getting to the school, Director Brenda Gammon said. A quorum of five members made it.

Among the items handled in an unusually short meeting were:

* Postponing the appointment of the first instructor for the new fire science vocational program. The region received about a half-dozen applications. A candidate’s name will be presented at the Aug. 3 board meeting.

* Appointing retired Dirigo High School English teacher Charlie Nielson as a part-time English teacher for Region 9.

* Accepting a hot lunch contract with RSU 10 for the upcoming school year. Student lunch prices will be up slightly to $2.10.

* Changing the schedule for Dirigo and Mountain Valley vocational students so they are better able to enroll in graduation requirements at their schools. Gammon said vocational students from those schools in Dixfield and Rumford, respectively, will be allowed to skip the first period of the day at Region 9. Students from the third sending school, Telstar Regional High School in Bethel, will continue to arrive at the beginning of the school day and will take their English requirement at Region 9.

* Announcing that signs designating a 15 mph school zone will be installed near the entrance and exit of the school by Sept. 1. The slower speeds will be required for the first and last hours of the school day.

Gammon said openings in all vocational programs at Region 9 are still available. Most are for juniors or seniors, while a few programs will accept sophomores. The school may be reached at 364-3764.

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