MEXICO – The Region 9 board Tuesday reduced the co-operative education teacher’s position to half-time because of low student enrollment.

With only 15 students enrolled, the 3-year-old program never had the numbers hoped for, Director Deborah Guimont said. In co-operative education, students partially enter the work force using a skill they have learned in the vocational school.

Guimont said the low number of students in the program may be attributed to the greater number of academic courses that the sending high schools require for graduation, therefore reducing the amount of time a student can work.

A contract for installation of the new furnace and air conditioning systems was awarded to Community Energy of Rumford at a cost of about $27,500. The funding will come from the current year’s operating budget.

The board gave Woodstock Oil the heating oil contract. The district will buy 7,800 gallons for $.9999 a gallon.

The contracts of adult education director Nancy Murphy and student services coordinator Cheryl Ellis were extended for another year.

Murphy said 26 adult students received either a high school diploma or General Education Development certificate during the recent graduation. One of those diplomas was presented to a veteran.

The number of graduates in the adult education program this year was among the highest ever.

Murphy also said that nearly 700 students participated in enrichment, GED, high school, vocational or college upgrade classes during the past year. This year’s summer school program begins on July 6 and runs through much of August. Students may come to the school on Tuesdays from 8 a.m. until noon and from 6 to 9 p.m., and on Wednesdays from 8 a.m. until noon.

Ellis said enrollment in the school’s vocational programs for next year stands at 151, about the same as the year just ending.

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