DIXFIELD — Regional School Unit 56 directors voted Thursday night to extend class times one hour beginning Monday to make up for five storm days.

Superintendent Pam Doyen said doing so would make the last day of school June 15.

The board also considered canceling teachers’ professional development and a late-start for students on Wednesdays, having school on Saturdays and canceling school vacation in April.

Canceling school vacation could be a problem for those who have plane tickets already, Doyen said.

In other business, Director of Special Services Susan Moore and Director of Nutrition Deborah Nokes gave budget overviews for 2018-19. School board Director Bruce Ross of Dixfield asked what the percentage of special needs students was in the district, and Doyen said 23 percent have individualized education programs.

“We have more than five kids in out-of-district placement, but only five of them (were considered) in this budget because the other ones we didn’t put into the local entitlement (budget),” Doyen said.

Nokes said goals for increasing student participation in lunches are grab ‘n go meals, or Bento boxes; more a la carte offerings at Dirigo middle and high schools; and adding special activities such as taste tests and chef for the day.

mhutchinson@sunmediagroup.net

Director of Special Services Susan Moore, standing, presents her budget overview for 2018-19 to the Regional School Unit 56 board of directors Thursday evening. (Marianne Hutchinson/Rumford Falls Times)