DIXFIELD – SAD 21 directors approved a new outing club when they met Tuesday. They also agreed to set up two new stipend positions that will be in charge of fundraising for the annual eighth grade class trip.

Laurie Soucy, district health coordinator, said she had worked with the Teen to Trail program to get the outing club launched. With the club approved, she can apply for a $500 grant for start-up costs.

Tentatively planned are monthly after-school outings for high school students. The outings could include kayaking, canoeing, hiking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.

Equipment required for activities is available through funds received in tandem with neighboring SAD 43 from the federal Physical Education Program.

The additional grant money through Teen to Trail would be used to hire a registered Maine guide to lead trips and teach orienteering.

“This program would give students the outdoor exposure,” Soucy said.

The board also gave the go-ahead to Dirigo Middle School Principal Celena Ranger to hire advisers for grades seven and eight at stipends of about $900 each annually.

The positions would coordinate fundraising for an annual eighth grade trip. In past years, the school was part of the GEAR-Up program, which provided funds and fundraising for trips to Quebec. This year, it is not.

Ranger said advisers would also contact tour companies about trips and communicate with parents about plans for the eighth grade trip.

“We still want to give kids a big trip, something they’ll remember,” Ranger said. “We’ll do the best to offer what we can.”

In other matters, the board approved the purchase of a 77-passenger 2009 Bluebird school bus at a cost of $71,699 to be paid over three years.

They also made appointments, including Joanne Weston as freshman class adviser and Patty Homan as senior class adviser; Sarah Sirois Irish as middle school yearbook adviser, and several winter sports coaches.