MEXICO — Vocational Region 9’s school board on Wednesday unanimously OK’d 2 percent raises for several staff members.

The raises were included in the School of Applied Technology’s budget approved by voters last month.

The board also hired former office administrator Deborah Nokes as instructor for the new culinary arts program.

Those receiving hourly wage hikes are:

* Melanie Regnere, who handles payroll and administrative assistant work, $19.33.

* Pam Rideout, the student services secretary who also handles accounts payable, $16.64.

* George Richard, part-time custodian, $14.60.

* Daryl Baker, a truck driving instructor, $19.43.

* Randy Gallant, full-time custodian, $14.79.

* Lori Kersey, part-time custodian, $13.01.

* Carleton Dickey, part-time adult education custodian, $14.60.

* Deborah Nokes, office administrator, $14.05. This was moot when Nokes accepted the culinary arts instructor position.

For salary agreements, the board approved $29,041 for Jerry Pelletier, an educational technician with the automotive program; $22,763 for Mark Beaudoin, a forestry program educational technician; and $21,241 for Christopher Gorham, an educational technician for all programs.

The board also unanimously approved the student handbook for 2015-16, and amended wording in the staff handbook for the next school year before approving it.

Director Betty Barrett objected to including a time period in which instructors need to be prepared and present daily. That was between 7:50 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. She motioned that the time be stricken and the board agreed.

tkarkos@sunmediagroup.net