MEXICO — The Vocational Region 9 board likely will receive a draft budget next month that may include a new vocational program.

Director Brenda Gammon said the Program and Personnel Committee is expected to meet next week to make a tentative recommendation.

“We discussed a food prep or business class, or plumbing/electrical,” she said Thursday.

The decision will determine whether the budget stays at about $2.1 million or increases to cover the cost of a new instructor and materials, she said.

“We need to make some changes to improve offerings for students,” she said.

The Region 9 School of Applied Technology offered 10 programs for nearly 10 years. The most recent addition was fire science.

The budget will likely be presented at the March 4 meeting.

Tentative plans also were made Wednesday to better accommodate vocational programs at the River Road school. The school also includes the adult and community education program. Some of that program’s space may be reduced.

Gammon said February is Career and Technical Education Month. She has encouraged staff from all three sending high schools, Mountain Valley in Rumford, Dirigo in Dixfield and Telstar Regional in Bethel, to visit the school to learn about programs being offered.

Instructors from the metal trades and fire science programs updated the board on activities and student numbers.

Metal trades has 12 students and fire science has 15.

In other matters, Gammon set up a meeting with high school principals to discuss next year’s academic class and vocational schedules.

Also, the annual Career Day is set for the morning of March 19. Region 9 students will have a chance to talk to people employed in various jobs.

The annual College Fair will be held on April 28 at Sunday River Ski Resort in Newry.

The board approved sending 16 students to the annual SkillsUSA competition in Bangor on March 5 and 6.

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