LIVERMORE FALLS — Regional School Unit 73 directors overwhelmingly approved pay increases for substitutes Thursday night.

Superintendent Kenneth Healey said the raises are needed to better ensure qualified people will be available. He said the current rates are on the low end of the averages paid by surrounding districts.

The increases for substitute teachers are: no degree, from $55 to $60 per day; two years of college, from $60 to $70; and four years of college, from $65 to $80 per day.

Other substitute positions receiving increases are food service workers, from $8 to $10 per hour; bus drivers, from $13 to $14 per hour; and custodians, from $11 to $12 per hour.

Board member Cindy Young and Mike Schaedler voted against the motion.

Healey said an analysis will be done to determine how much the district should put in the substitute positions line for the 2015-16 budget.

In other matters, Spruce Mountain High School Principal T.J. Plourde said $8,200 in cash and between 15,000 and 20,000 pounds of food have been gathered in the Spirit Challenge sponsored by WGME Channel 13.

The school and neighboring Mountain Valley High School in Rumford challenged each other to raise the most. One dollar equals 5 pounds of food.

The eight high schools asked to participate in the challenge have until the end of the month to amass money and food. All donations will be given to the Good Shepherd Food-Bank in Auburn.

Also on Thursday, the board:

* Accepted the resignation of Livermore Elementary School education technician Siobhan Murtiff.

* Appointed Kristen Ouellette as a special services educational technician, Dianne Fenlason as the Spruce Mountain Middle School band director, Conner Hasson as the high school junior varsity girls basketball coach; and Brad Bishop as the Spruce Mountain Middle School intramural adviser.

* Heard from Healey that student enrollments are 400 at Livermore Elementary school; 350 at Jay Elementary School; 366 at the Middle School in Jay; 453 at the high school in Jay. The total is 1,569.

* Heard from Building, Grounds and Transportation Director Ken Vining that installation of a new propane gas boiler at the Middle School is 95 percent complete.

The board will meet just once a month for the rest of the year, at 6 p.m. Nov. 13 and Dec. 11.