School officials had no choice last winter but to install a new furnace in the school after an underground pipe broke that pumped heat from Dexter Regional High School into the adjacent technical school.

Because the ground was frozen and rather than continue with the former arrangement, school officials contracted with A.E. Robinson of Dover-Foxcroft to have two new boilers installed at the technical school. The company, which conducted the work during a weekend, also closed off the heating system that connected the high school to the technical center.

Superintendent Raymond Poulin Jr. said Friday the project cost about $45,000. An application was made to the state's revolving school loan program for funding and Poulin learned this week of its acceptance. Poulin said that under the loan program the district would receive about 68 percent of the costs incurred.

In other district news, Poulin, who resigned as superintendent effective the end of June, has agreed to serve as interim Superintendent July 1-11. The new superintendent, Lester Butler, will be at the post July 12. Directors agreed to pay Poulin up to $5,000 for his services during that time period.

Martha Pfirman is the district's new director of special education. She will receive a salary of $47,000.

An informational meeting and public hearing will be held on the proposed district budget at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 23, at the Dexter High School cafeteria. A district referendum for the budget's adoption has been scheduled for June 12.
"This content originally appeared as a copyrighted article in the Saturday, May 05, 2000 Weekend edition of the Bangor Daily NEWS and is used here with permission."