DIXFIELD — The RSU 10 board on Monday night approved a calendar for school year 2012-13 that is closely coordinated with Region 9 School of Applied Technology, Region 11 School of Applied Technology and SAD 44.

“This was our best effort to be as close as we can,” Superintendent Tom Ward said.

RSU 10 students from the Dixfield and Rumford-Mexico regions attend the Region 9 vocational school in Mexico, along with those from Telstar High School in Bethel. RSU 10 students from the Buckfield region attend the Region 11 vocational school in Paris.

RSU 10 students begin classes Aug. 29, and end on June 6. Any snow days will be made up after June 6.

Ward said the school region can vary up to five days with other connected educational entities, but this calendar varies by fewer.

The major question posed by board members was the difference among the three district high schools — Mountain Valley in Rumford, Dirigo in Dixfield and Buckfield — because the first two have a quarter system, and Buckfield has a trimester system.

Ward said the first two blocks of each day in the three high schools are the same. This means that advanced placement classes can be scheduled then so that all students who want to enroll may do so.

The board also approved two contracts with the secretaries bargaining unit, after a closed session.

Ward said a one-year contract for 2011-12 was approved and a three-year contract for 2012-15. He said each of the years provide a little more than a 2 percent increase. These contracts cover about 15 secretaries districtwide.