LIVERMORE FALLS — RSU 73 directors voted 6-4 Thursday night to eliminate a freshman course as a graduation requirement for Spruce Mountain High School students in Jay.

The action means students at both high school campuses, Jay and Livermore Falls, must have 24 credits to graduate. Previously, Jay students had to take the Freshmen Essentials course to earn an extra half credit, but Livermore and Livermore Falls students did not. The semester-long course teaches leadership, library research, career preparation and other skills.

The vote followed strong objections from Jay high school Principal Gilbert Eaton, several board members and a number of teachers.

“I’m a bit perplexed,” Eaton said. “If you have a policy to support the Maine Learning Results, that’s exactly what this does. I don’t think it’s a good idea” to eliminate it as a graduation requirement.

Eaton also asked why the change was made since all RSU 73 high school students will be at one campus at the beginning of the next school year.

Board member Mary Redmond-Luce said she believes the course would not be that helpful, because the entire school system should address those objectives in every course.

Board member Tammy Dwinal-Shufelt agreed.

“All this stuff is important, but I would want it integrated into four years” of high school, she said.

Eaton said the course uses the book “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens.” He and others argued that those students most in need of the course may not enroll in it if it’s not mandatory.

Board member Mike Morrell said he took the course as a student and found it wasn’t that helpful, because he already knew nearly everything it offered.

Leadership team member Sue St. Pierre asked the board to read the vision statement, which was also adopted at the meeting, before making a decision.

Voting to eliminate the course were Denise Rodzen, Darcie Comstock, Jackie Knight, Morrell, Dan DiPompo and Redmond-Luce. Voting not to eliminate it were Tammy Frost, Diane Gould, Vicki McLeod and Cindy Young. Abstaining were Dwinal-Shufelt and Tim Madden.

The vision statement for the soon-to-be merged Spruce Mountain High School reads: “Spruce Mountain High School Graduates will be academically prepared and culturally enlightened citizens who are confident and self-reliant, economically and socially responsible, resilient and ready to face the changing demands of a global society.”

St. Pierre said the statement will be used as a basis for writing the school’s mission statement, which she said should be ready to present to the school board in October.