Regional School Unit 56 Director Samantha Noyes, left, of Dixfield speaks as Director Angela Varnum, also of Dixfield, listens at Tuesday’s meeting at Dirigo High School in Dixfield. Marianne Hutchinson/Rumford Falls Times

DIXFIELD — Superintendent Pam Doyen gave directors of Regional School Union 56 on Tuesday a rundown on how money from the federal coronavirus aid bill has been spent.

“We put in money from everything from extended school year programs” and tutoring, to technology equipment to personal protective equipment) for students and staff, she said.

Uses include:

• A technology support position for one year.

• Staff to work as COVID coordinators to help guide the district in handling the rules and regulations of government requirements of the pandemic in schools.

• A nurse at Dirigo High School in Dixfield.

Advertisement

• Two school buses and a 22-passenger minibus.

• Updated ventilation systems at Dirigo Elementary School in Peru and T.W. Kelly Middle School in Dixfield.

• Equipment to stream sports events.

Brian Keene, Regional School Unit 56 technology director, addresses the board of directors at Dirigo High School in Dixfield on Tuesday. Marianne Hutchinson/Rumford Falls Times

RSU 56 Technology Director Brian Keene said money also helped pay for additional network coverage for all three schools and the ball field at Harlow Park, and replace computers for students and staff at the middle and elementary schools.

In other business, Doyen, who is also principal of the high school, said enrollment is 216 students, with 140 attending classes in person and 76 attending virtually. The latter use Zoom videoconferencing so they are seen and heard by those in the classroom.

Doyon also said truancy is a problem at the high school: Fifteen students are considered truant, 10 of whom are virtual learners.


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.