Mountain Valley High School teacher Trudy Cormier of Rumford spoke to Regional School Unit 10 directors Monday night as a “concerned taxpayer and parent,” saying RSU 10 needs to put students first.

Former Regional School Unit 10 Director Brad Gallant of Rumford addresses the board Monday evening. “The sharing of any services (with RSU 56 in Dixfield) should be minimal, if nonexistent,” he said.

MEXICO — Regional School Unit 10 directors Monday evening were told that students should be the first priority when considering whether to share services with RSU 56 in Dixfield.

The discussion, attended by about 50 people, was prompted after residents in Dixfield, Canton, Carthage and Peru voted last year to leave RSU 10 and form their own district to save money and have more control. The new RSU 56 begins operations July 1.

It will leave Rumford, Mexico, Roxbury, Buckfield, Hartford, Sumner and Hanover in RSU 10.

Trudy Cormier of Rumford, a teacher at Mountain Valley High School in Rumford, said she has two sons in school and was speaking as a concerned taxpayer and parent.

“All this talk of the withdrawal and sharing services, I feel like RSU 10, the future RSU 10, hasn’t been the main priority,” she said. “And I’m here tonight to ask that that be the main priority. Our children need to be the main priority. We’ve been asked to do in our school a lot more with a lot less.”

Former RSU 10 Director Brad Gallant of Rumford said RSU 10 needs to think about its students first.

“The sharing of any services (with RSU 56) should be minimal, if nonexistent,” Gallant said.

An audience member said he thought RSU 10 directors from the withdrawing towns should not be allowed to vote on issues affecting taxes for next year.

Chairman Bruce Ross said all RSU 10 directors were allowed to vote, but those from the withdrawing towns can choose to abstain.

The board voted to grant music teacher Meghan Andrews-Wright a leave of absence for the next two school years.

The next RSU 10 directors meeting is at 6:30 p.m. Monday, March 13, at the Region 9 School of Applied Technology in Mexico.

mhutchinson@sunmediagroup.net

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