DIXFIELD — Eight students from Buckfield Junior-Senior High School will be traveling to Washington, D.C., in June to compete in the National History Day competition.

Gifted and talented teacher Linda Andrews said that of the 16 junior and senior high school students who competed at last month’s Maine History Day in Augusta, eight qualified for the national competition. 

The board Monday approved using about $1,200 remaining in the gifted and talented travel account to go toward the trip set for June 9.

Andrews said the students will begin raising the rest of the approximately $3,500 needed to travel to College Park, Md., where they will be housed.

In other matters at Monday’s meeting, the resignation of Dirigo High School assistant principal/athletic director Chris Moreau was accepted. Moreau has served two years is is taking a position as area coordinator for Christian athletes in Florida.

The board also accepted the resignations of Carol Huotari, Hartford-Sumner Elementary School librarian for 15 years; and Mountain Valley High School girls’ basketball coach Tammy Gallant.

Caleb McNaughton was appointed Buckfield Junior-Senior High School track coach and Heather Nadeau as the school’s junior varsity softball coach.

The board also approved a school bus policy that regulates how long the buses are allowed to idle and how close to the school. The goal is to ensure cleaner air.

In a related matter, Policy Committee member Barbara Show said the committee will soon start developing a policy governing service dogs in the schools, because students requiring this service are expected to begin classes next year.

Superintendent Tom Ward also told the board that the track teams from Dirigo High School in Dixfield, Mountain Valley High School in Rumford and Buckfield high school will soon begin practicing together, as will track teams from Mountain Valley Middle School in Mexico, Dirigo Middle School in Dixfield and Buckfield junior high school.