FARMINGTON — The Maine Department of Education has approved the plumbing program at Foster Career and Technical Education Center on the Mt. Blue Campus, Director Glenn Kapiloff said.

Kapiloff informed the Regional School Unit 9 board of the Department of Education ‘s acceptance of the program Dec. 8.

The acceptance means that the state will refund the district for money spent during the first two years. The plumbing program established this school year is being funded by a state grant.

In order to get a program started at the Foster Center, the district had to either fund it directly from the budget for two years or have an outside source fund it for the first two years, Kapiloff said.

In Foster’s case, Regional School Unit 9 directors voted July 7 to enter into an agreement for a grant from the Office of the Maine Attorney General to start a plumbing program at the center for the current school year.

The AG’s grant is made possible through a settlement by consent judgment in March with National Bath Systems LLC, doing business as Bath Fitter of Portland, concerning accusations of violations of the Internal Plumbing Code and violations of the Maine Home Construction Contracts Act.

All programs are designed to prepare the students for the Maine journeyman’s examination. The schools are also required to make all reasonable efforts to seek reimbursement from the state and local authorities to continue the programs after the grant funds from the attorney general are terminated.

During the first year of the two-year grant, $30,000 is for a half-time instructor and $30,000 for facilities and equipment. During the second year, beginning in September 2016, $60,000 would be for a full-time instructor and include heating, ventilation and air conditioning instruction. The AG’s second annual payment is subject to Bath Fitter’s continued compliance with the consent judgment.

“If Bath Fitter’s settlement comes in for two years, the program will continue indefinitely,” Kapiloff said. “We will always be getting reimbursed for expenditures from two years back.

The Foster Center serves students who attend Mt. Blue High School, Spruce Mountain High School in Jay, Mt. Abram High School in Salem Township, and Rangeley Lakes Regional School in Rangeley.

The board hired veteran licensed plumber Lucky Harrison of Temple in August as the instructor for the program.

dperry@sunmediagroup.net