MEXICO — New courses may be in the offing at the Region 9 School of Applied Technology if space and organization can be pulled together.

At Wednesday’s board meeting, Program Committee spokeswoman Sally Arsenault presented suggestions by her committee on possible future offerings. Among them were courses in fire science and law enforcement.

“Towns need (firefighter) volunteers,” board member Betty Barrett said during the discussion.

The school is in the process of contacting fire science experts who could provide further information on any possible course.

Some board members were concerned that a secondary firefighter program or law enforcement program could interfere or compete with several junior firefighter programs now offered in the fire departments of several Region 9 towns, as well as with the Mexico Police Explorers group.

The consensus was that if Region 9 should start either of the safety programs, they would work with existing programs.

Also being considered is a possible culinary arts program, which was also high on the desired list of future vocational programs when a survey of students, staff and the business community was conducted a couple of years ago.

Director Brenda Gammon said culinary instructors from three area vocational schools will soon be invited to visit the Region 9 building to provide comments and suggestions on what would be available or appropriate for such a program within the school.

Once she has met with the culinary instructors and the fire science experts, she will bring her findings back to the board.

Board member Frank DiConzo suggested either electrical or plumbing programs would also be good fits for the school.

“There is a need there,” he said.

Barrett said the school has no money for any additional programs unless an existing one is eliminated.

Gammon said the school is investigating space that might be available for any of the suggested programs.

Arsenault said studies by the committee showed that enrollment in the vocational school’s three sending high schools are declining, which in turn, means enrollment could decline at Region 9.

“We need to look forward to see if we need to change to maintain our numbers,” she said.

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