DIXFIELD — The RSU 10 board will take a look at several short-term proposed facility changes on Monday, as well as decide whether to offer a retirement incentive program for teachers in an effort to reduce district costs.

The regular board meeting begins at 6:30 p.m., Monday, in the community room of Dirigo High School.

Superintendent Tom Ward said the board will review the following short-term facilities matters:

* Elimination of most portable classrooms at Dirigo Middle School in Dixfield and Mountain Valley Middle School in Mexico;

* Closure of the former Central Office building adjacent to Dirigo High School in Dixfield; and

* Return the second floor of the Buckfield Municipal Office building to the town.

In long-term matters, Ward said:

* The University of Maine System is again considering use of the former industrial arts wing of Mountain Valley High School in Rumford to relocate its college program;

* Officials are considering of building a systemwide bus garage on a portion of land owned by the Region 9 School of Applied Technology in Mexico. Ward said such a facility would serve buses in all three regions of the school district and could make it possible for the vocational school to offer a new program in diesel mechanics.

Decisions already made for RSU 10 include:

* Maintaining a high school in all three regions of the RSU; and

* Making application to the state for a new prekindergarten through grade five elementary school for the Mountain Valley region.

Ward said he believes that by the end of the meeting, he will have direction for the next steps the district must take.

The board will also decide whether to offer retirement incentives to as many as 10 longtime teachers. If enacted, this will be the third time such incentives have been offered in an effort to save the district money, Ward said.

During the past four years, about 60 positions have been eliminated, saving the district about $2.6 million.

Staff now number 525, down from 600 when the former SAD 21, SAD 39 and SAD 43 merged four years ago. Student enrollment stands at about 2,750.

Also on Monday, district elementary and middle school principals will present their budget requests for 2013-14. The current budget is $35.1 million.