LIVERMORE FALLS — More than 70 Spruce Mountain High School students are participating in AmeriCorps programs aimed at boosting student achievement and aspirations.

Eleni Margaronis, AmeriCorps site coordinator for the school and Carrabec High School in Anson, and two other AmeriCorps members, presented the first report to the school board Thursday. The program began in August.

Regional School Unit 73 is sharing a three-year, $2.2 million School Turnaround AmeriCorps Grant with three other districts.

Some of the goals of the grant include involving families of the students and people from the community, as well as assisting students to do their best.

Richard Lafrenaye, a full-time AmeriCorps member assigned to Spruce Mountain High School, said he and school staff are implementing a credit recovery program. Among the most significant achievements, so far, has been 25 people from throughout New England speaking on careers and the education required under the Career Pathways program.

Margaronis said the high school’s full-time and two half-time AmeriCorps positions have been filled by Lafrenaye, Miles Hutchinson and Crystal Smith.

Seven of the 32, 300-hour AmeriCorps positions have been filled. Margaronis said she is looking for community people with special interests and students at least 17 years old to serve as volunteers. Those who fill these positions will receive $100 plus an educational stipend of $1,175. Tasks might include introducing special interests, tutoring or serving as mentors.

In other business, the board accepted the resignation of Jay school board member Clint Brooks. The Jay Board of Selectmen is looking for a replacement, Superintendent Robert Wall said.

Also on Thursday, the board:

* Approved an evaluation tool for district support staff.

* Met in a 40-minute closed session for an update on negotiations with the educational technicians, secretaries and teachers bargaining units.

* Learned that RSU 73 will be one of 10 districts from the Western Maine Educational Collaboration to take part in a pilot program for the state-mandated teacher and principal evaluation process. Wall said the program will begin next week.