MEXICO – The Region 9 board unanimously voted Tuesday night to support vocational education through a resolution that will be sent to the governor, the education commissioner and the area’s legislative delegation.

The action was a response to Gov. John Baldacci’s proposal to reduce the number of school administrative districts from 152 to 26.

“The governor’s proposal would do away with the Region 9 board. Our school would become just another school and there would be a loss of focus on technical education,” said board Chairman Norman Clanton.

The resolution states that Region 9 has thrived under the current governing structure and has established a record of excellence in technical education.

“We believe a cooperative board such as this, whose entire focus is on technical education, will best serve the needs of students, staff and community. Region 9 is committed to providing an environment that fosters personal growth and the development of lifelong skills. Any reorganization proposal must place high value on technical education,” the resolution states.

Clanton had said earlier in the meeting that with the commissioner’s proposal to increase the academic emphasis in the state’s high schools so that every student could attend a four-year college, vocational education could be lost.

He said some students have other skills, such as in the trades.

“Technical education is not foremost in the minds of the Department of Education. Not everyone goes to a four-year college,” said Clanton.

Keith Farrington, a representative from SAD 44, said that board voted unanimously in favor of supporting a Maine School Management Association resolution opposing the governor’s proposal on Monday night. The SAD 21 board also supported the resolution at its meeting on Feb. 5. The SAD 43 board will discuss the resolution at its meeting on Feb. 26.

That resolution objected to the size and boundaries of the proposed new regions, questioned the projected savings, considered the time line for implementing the proposal too short, and objected to the lack of input.

Jeff Sterling, a representative from SAD 43, did not like the idea of supporting the Maine School Management Association resolution, but did want to support a resolution that states the impact of the governor’s proposal on Region 9.

Randy Canwell, another SAD 43 representative, strongly supported the MSMA resolution.

“I’m taking a stand to protect us, in the interest of regional schools,” he said prior to the board agreeing on the alternative resolution.

Clanton said following the vote on the new resolution that the board wanted to express something affirmative and positive about technical education, and the possible suffering such schools would experience from the governor’s proposal, which he said lacked vocational emphasis.

The Legislature is expected to act on a regionalization proposal soon.