MEXICO – The Region 9 vocational school board Thursday night approved a budget of just over $2 million, providing a 3 percent raise for staff and expanding a program for 10th graders.

Last year’s operating budget came in at $1.9 million.

However, directors were quick to note that about $80,000 will be taken from remaining undesignated funds to cover the doubled electricity costs, salary increases and an educational technician. Those funds will also be used to offset the 5 percent proposed budget increase.

SAD 43 representatives Randy Canwell and Betty Barrett voted against the proposed budget because they objected to the 3 percent salary increase, but liked the program to introduce 10th-graders to vocational education.

Region 9 director Brenda Gammon said the expanded program could be considered a feeder program into the regular vocational offerings and could become a part of the diversified occupation program. Region 9 normally begins accepting students when they reach 11th grade.

At least two groups of 15 to 18 10th-graders could be accommodated for the proposed semester-long introduction to vocational education. Students would attend classes or otherwise be introduced to the offerings for two weeks each. The proposed educational technician position would guide students through each program.

Barrett said the decline in high school enrollment from the region’s three sending schools is affecting the Region 9 enrollment.

“We’re losing 50 kids with the new freshman class (in the fall),” she said of Mountain Valley High School’s projected enrollment.

She advocated for the 10th grade program, but argued against increasing salaries by 3 percent.

Instructors at Region 9 generally receive yearly salary increases equal to the average salary hike of the three sending high schools.

The board also approved an adult and community education proposed budget of $296,945, up less than a half-percent from the current year’s figure. Although the adult education teachers have been providing additional brush-up academic skills to recently laid off workers, adult education director Nancy Allen said she is using grant money for many of those extra hours.

Both proposed budgets will now go before residents during two public hearings set for April 15. The first will take place at 6 p.m. at Telstar Regional High School in Bethel. The second follows at 7:30 p.m. at the Region 9 school.

Voters will decide on both budgets at a town meeting May 19.