MEXICO – Voters unanimously approved a $1 million budget for the secondary program and just over $213,000 for the adult and community education program at Region 9 Tuesday night.

The town-meeting-style budget vote lasted just over 10 minutes. About 30 residents from the region’s three participating districts and five unaffiliated towns turned out for the annual event.

Region 9 Director Deborah Guimont gave a sigh of relief after the vote, saying that she never feels certain that she will have an operating budget for the next school year until after the public votes.

She said both budgets rose about 5 percent from last year’s figures of $1,003,280 for the secondary program, compared with $1,053,444 for the new school year, and $202,886 for the adult and community education program, compared with $213,354 for the next school year.

She said slightly higher staff salary hikes and significant increases in insurance premium costs accounted for the higher budgets for the next school year of 2004-05.

As approved, for the secondary program, residents of SAD 21 will pay $246,234; SAD 43, $449,690; SAD 44, 229,699; Gilead, $5,546; Hanover, $13,506; Peru, $82,266; and Upton, $103.

For the adult and community education program, SAD 21 will pay $11,956; SAD 43, $53,484; SAD 44, $11,879; Hanover, $473; Gilead, $292; Peru, $4,089; and Upton, $115.

The vocational school currently has an enrollment of 135 full-time students in forestry, metal trades, building trades, allied health, diversified occupations, and computer repair and networking, and another dozen or so truck-driving students. The adult and community education program serves hundreds of adult and young adult students in for credit, enrichment and non-credit courses.

During Tuesday’s regular board meeting that followed the vote, several committees were established for the next school year and several special end-of-school events were announced.

Guimont said at least 18 adult education students, including one World War II veteran, will receive their diplomas or GEDs at a ceremony set for 2 p.m. June 6 at Mountain Valley Middle School. Rep. Randy Hotham, R-Dixfield, will be the featured speaker.

On Wednesday, May 26, the annual awards night and induction into the vocational school honor society for secondary students will begin at 6 p.m. in the Eagles Hall in Rumford.

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