DIXFIELD — The RSU 10 board on Monday unanimously agreed to sign a letter of intent for two Rumford schools to hook into the Maine Natural Gas line.

Building and Grounds Director Kenny Robbins said the agreement is nonbinding, but lets the company know of potential users. The schools are Mountain Valley High School and Rumford Elementary School.

Robbins said tentative plans call for laying of gas lines starting in July. He said about a year will be needed to complete the project.

In other matters, two additional meetings were set for the 2014-15 school budget: April 1 at 6:30 p.m. at Hartford-Sumner Elementary School and April 2 at 6:30 p.m. at Region 9 School of Applied Technology in Mexico. Superintendent Craig King said residents can express concerns and ask questions about the spending plan.

The board is expected to adopt a proposed budget April 28, hold a public hearing May 22, hold a vote May 29 and a referendum June 10 in each town.

The district includes the towns of Canton, Carthage, Dixfield, Peru, Buckfield, Hartford, Sumner, Byron, Mexico, Roxbury, Rumford and Hanover.

The Building and Grounds Committee will meet March 19 and the Curriculum Committee on March 26.

Several retirements effective at the end of the school year were announced, including Chris Galway, a second-grade teacher, and Jacqueline Stevens, a fourth-grade teacher, both at Hartford-Sumner Elementary School; and Crystal Pineau, a speech therapist at Dirigo Elementary School in Peru.

Wilton LaRose was hired as a special education educational technician at Mountain Valley Middle School in Mexico.

King also announced a teacher professional development day for March 21. Students will not attend classes on that day.

The next board meeting is at 6:30 p.m. March 24 at Dirigo Elementary School in Peru.

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