BUCKFIELD — The Dirigo High School junior class was granted permission Monday night to hold the annual prom at a newly renovated function hall in  Rumford.

The Western Foothills Regional School Unit 10 board unanimously approved the request for 49 Franklin St. The prom is scheduled for May 14, 2011.

Junior class President Makaila Statham and Vice President Coral Howe said they had cleared the request with the senior class.

“It’s absolutely beautiful,” said Statham of the former church that was recently renovated into a function hall by Scot and Cindy Grassette.

Scot Grassette will supply DJ music, and the commercial kitchen at the site will be used to prepare appetizers for the students before the dance.

Junior class adviser JoAnne Weston said the cost for the function hall will be about the same as decorating the gym or community room at the high school.

The board also approved a combined trip for any student from the district’s three member high schools to Gettysburg and Philadelphia, tentatively set for Memorial Day weekend.

Dirigo High School history teacher Beth Edwards said the goal is to have 44 people sign up. She said at least four chaperones will make the trip.

“We’re hoping by making this an RSU trip, it will bring the kids together,” she said.

Several board members were concerned that band members, who often perform at veterans ceremonies on Memorial Day, may have a conflict if they want to go on the trip.

Superintendent Tom Ward said he and Edwards will learn whether that might be the case, then bring that information back to the board. The date of the trip could be changed.

Also on Monday, Buckfield Junior-Senior High School Principal George Reuter announced that two teachers at his school have won the Maine Agriculture in the Classroom teachers of the year.

The award will be presented in Augusta on Thursday.

Gretchen Kimball and Annette Caldwell have been the forces behind the school’s acre-sized community garden adjacent to the school. Dozens of students have taken part in its planting, maintenance and harvesting, as well as some cooking, during the past several years. Some of the food has been sold, some has been used in the school’s cafeteria, some given to low-income families, and some served at a community supper two weeks ago. They have also acquired grants for a composting facility, among other things.

Hartford-Sumner Elementary School Principal Ryan Wilkins invited board members to his school’s annual Thanksgiving dinner for fifth- and sixth-grade students and their parents on Nov. 18.

Following the meeting, Ward asked the board to remain to discuss the procedure for expelling a student. He said one boy was expelled a couple of weeks ago, and he expects two more to go before expulsion hearings next month.

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