RANGELEY — The School Board approved a $3.4 million budget Tuesday night and was briefed on the adult education program.

Discussion of the 2013-14 budget included debates on salary versus stipend for an athletic director; a teacher contract for a guidance counselor, who would have the same job description as the student services coordinator; and $3,000 for additional custodial services.

“I think this is a good, solid budget, with enough leeway to provide contingency funds as a buffer for emergencies,” Superintendent Brian Foster said.

The board accepted the budget of $3,420,930.65 with one “no” vote. The budget will go to the public for a hearing June 4.

Ray Therrien, SAD 9 Adult and Community Education program director, brought the board up to date on the offerings, and the connection to Rangeley. Accompanying him was Joanne Chapman, an adult education instructor.

Therrien said there are two programs, Adult Basic and Adult Community. Adult Basic classes range from teaching people to be literate to obtaining their General Education Development certificate. Adult Community classes include truck driving, French, investing and introduction to computers, among others. The program also offers college-transition and college-credit classes.

Rangeley has been under the SAD 9 Adult Education umbrella for six years, and all the programs are accessible to Rangeley residents. Therrien spoke about the possibility of video-conference teaching that links classes in Farmington with students in Rangeley and of a partnership with ConnectME, which is developing high-speed fiber-optic and broadband Internet.

Chapman explained that the choice of classes available in Rangeley was a combination of requests from the public and availability of instructors.

In other business, the board decided to send an informal survey asking parents if they prefer classes to start before or after Labor Day, which falls on Sept. 2 this year. The question arose because the holiday may impact families’ vacation plans or students’ summer job schedules.

Student board member Gabrielle Cavalier reported on the Spanish class’s two-week trip to Madrid, where they stayed with host families. Students spent two days in Barcelona, with day trips to Toledo and Segovia.

“Their school was nice,” Cavalier said. “It was K-12 like we are, which is not unusual in Spain. They speak very fast — I could pick out words, but if I could stay there a month, I think I’d be 10 times better.”

Rangeley Lakes Regional School Principal Sherry Connally reported there was not enough student interest to field a baseball team.

Foster noted that Rangeley fire Chief Tim Pellerin will attend the next School Board meeting to outline the school’s new safety plan, which has been under discussion with school administrators and Rangeley Fire and Police departments.

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