LIVERMORE FALLS — The RSU 73 board on Thursday elevated the status of seven workers from education technician II to education technician III.

The change carries a total of about $35,000 in additional salary.

Superintendent Kenneth Healey said the higher status is aligned with the duties of the positions. An education technician III is allowed to supervise students, he said.

He said money for the salary increases is in the current budget.

Other ed techs will be considered for elevated status on a case-by-case basis.

The seven affected positions are at Spruce Mountain Middle School, Spruce Mountain High School and Jay Elementary School.

The only education technician III position at Livermore Elementary School is grandfathered. She is the library technician.

In another salary-related matter, Healey said the board should look into increasing the daily pay for substitute teachers, bus drivers, food service workers, education technicians and custodians. The current daily rate for substitute teachers is $65, which is a figure below that paid in neighboring school districts.

“Several people have said they have not been able to get subs because of outdated numbers,” Healey said.

He will review the daily pay for substitutes in other districts, and bring the matter back to the board Sept. 25.

In other matters, Healey said the number of students enrolled at the end of the first week of school was up by nearly 30 students from the enrollment at the end of the previous school year. He said the current number of students is 1,592, up from 1,565. He said that number could change.

All principals reported exceptionally smooth openings at their schools when students returned to classes last week.

Also on Thursday:

* A negotiation session with the Spruce Mountain Education Association was set for 3 p.m. Sept. 17;

* Negotiations for a new bus drivers’ contract will begin at 9 a.m., Sept. 23;

* Jay Elementary School Principal Chris Hollingsworth said 11 teacher practicum students from the University of Maine at Farmington will begin working with kindergarten, first-, third- and fourth-grade classes next week.

* At Livermore Elementary School, Principal Kevin Harrington said two practicum students from UMF and one from the University of Southern Maine will begin work with kindergarten and first-graders at his school.

* Board Chairwoman Denise Rodzen began the meeting with a moment of silence in honor of the nearly 3,000 people who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

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