LIVERMORE FALLS — The Regional School Unit 73 board of directors tabled a proposed building use policy Thursday night until it knows how many for-profit groups and individuals use district buildings.

The action followed a lengthy discussion and a number of telephone calls board members received about private music lessons Livermore Elementary School music teacher Jan Gill offers after school.

Several at the meeting objected to a proposed policy that would require a fee for such use.

“We’re a small community where there are no music stores or places for kids to have music lessons,” resident Deb Finley said. “She’s extending our kids’ education.”

Resident Christine LaBonte said she’d like to see RSU 73 schools be part of the community.

“The lessons use one small classroom with negligible costs,” she said.

Board member Bert Poisson said when he grew up in the area, the schools were the heart of the community.

“People need a place to go, whether it’s Weight Watchers or a teacher giving lessons. I want to make sure we have these buildings for the community,” he said.

However, board Chairwoman Denise Rodzen said the directors are responsible for protecting the district’s assets.

“When we develop the budget, people will want to cut everything,” she said.

Gill has been giving private lessons for seven years, Finley said.

The majority of the board voted to allow Gill to continue offering lessons after school until a new policy is adopted. Amy McDaniel voted against the motion and Shari Ouellette abstained from voting.

Superintendent Kenneth Healey said he would go along with whatever the board decided. But, he said, he had been involved in a situation at another school district where several of the same kind of for-profit businesses or individuals started using that district’s buildings.

“If a policy is not defined enough, you could get an organization you don’t want, and you could be sued,” he said.

Rodzen said there may be several groups using school buildings the board isn’t aware of.

“We’ll table the policy until the Policy Committee sits down with all the groups,” she said.

Also Thursday, the board accepted, with regret, the resignation of Spruce Mountain High School Assistant Principal/Athletic Director Lee Hixon.

Hixon was hired two years ago for both jobs. He plans to take a similar position in Florida at the end of this school year.

The board agreed to establish an ad hoc committee to begin a search for his replacement.