LIVERMORE FALLS — The RSU 73 board approved borrowing up to $250,000 so a major renovation project at Spruce Mountain High School can begin. They also approved extending the trimester ranking period at Spruce Mountain Middle School for five days.

The bond anticipation note is needed so design work and other parts of the $1.8 million renovation at the high school, Spruce Mountain Middle School and the Jay Community Center, all in Jay, can start prior to the end of the school year.

The project, approved by voters in the three-town district in January, will enable all 500 high school students from the Spruce Mountain high schools in Livermore Falls and Jay to attend classes together in Jay. It is slated to be completed prior to the beginning of the 2013-14 school year.

Because all five snow days have taken place during the second trimester at the middle school, Principal Scott Albert requested a five-day extension to the current trimester so all trimesters will be approximately equal in length.

Other decisions on trimester length may be made if additional snow days are needed in the next couple of months.

In other matters, the board also met in a 15-minute closed session to discuss disposition of the former middle school in Livermore Falls. No action was taken.

Also on Thursday, the board appointed:

* Brian Dube to the position of varsity baseball coach at SMHS;

* Clint Brooks to the position of junior varsity softball coach at SMHS;

* LeeAnna Lavoie to the position of varsity girls tennis coach at SMHS;

* Dan Cox to the position of junior varsity softball coach at SMHS; and

* Donna Kenney to the position of adult education English as a second language teacher.

The board will meet Monday, March 4, in a third budget workshop at the high school cafeteria in Livermore Falls.