MEXICO — Nearly 155 students have taken out applications to enroll in vocational programs at Region 9 School of Applied Technology, board members learned at their Wednesday night meeting.

Director Brenda Gammon said the certified nursing assistant course is virtually full and the forestry program is filling up fast.

With the current school year set to end June 16, plenty of room remains in the other programs, particularly those building construction and fire science.

In a related matter, about 85 eighth-graders from Mountain Valley Middle School in Mexico toured the school Tuesday to learn about two offerings for ninth-graders: employability skills and career technical education exploration.

Eighth-graders from Dirigo Middle School in Peru took a similar tour earlier in the school year.

Gammon said about a dozen ninth-graders enrolled in each of those two programs this school year.

The board also tabled action on contracting for a hot lunch service. Gammon said the two sending districts, RSU 10 in Rumford/Mexico/Dixfield, and SAD 44 in Bethel, are crucial to a decision on whether the vocational programs will be offered every other full day, a half day five times a week, or some other combination.

“We will figure it out so all students (who sign up for a vocational program) can attend Region 9,” she said.

Currently, vocational students spend every other full day at Region 9.

She said if the sending districts decide that their students will attend vocational education on half days, then Region 9 would not offer lunch.

In other matters, the board granted 2 percent raises to each employee, effective July 1.

They also set a Facilities Committee meeting for 8 a.m. Friday to study alternative fuels and to discuss and possibly act on a wiring issue.

The board and Gammon entered into a closed session with automotive instructor Dan Richards.