BUCKFIELD — Three options for Regional School Unit 10 schools in the future garnered about the same support from residents at Tuesday night’s forum at Buckfield Junior-Senior High School.

Although some suggested building a comprehensive high school and vocational school for all district secondary students, the board’s options received about an equal number of advocates from the crowd of about 50 people. Attendees were divided into groups.

King said doing nothing or making no changes was not an option.

“If we do nothing, students will pay a heavy price,” he told the group.

Group leaders Matt Gilbert, principal of Mountain Valley High School in Rumford, said option three may be the best choice. It would have the school house all secondary students from the Mountain Valley and Dirigo regions. Dirigo High School in Dixfield would house all students in grades six to eight.

That option would also see several schools closed, such as Mountain Valley Middle School, the so-called Dirigo East campus, Pennacook Learning Center and Rumford Elementary School.

Brian Carrier, a district technology expert, said his group favored either option 1 or option 3 because Rumford and Dixfield high schools would house grades seven to 12, similar to how the Buckfield school is organized.

Option 3 was also favored by a group led by Buckfield high school Principal George Reuter because more programs would be offered to students.

Options 1 and 2 were chosen by a group led by Ryan Wilkins, principal of Hartford-Sumner Elementary School in Sumner, because the two retained regional identity.

King said costs have not been determined for any of the options, but will likely be when a final option is chosen.

None of the options suggest changing the school in Buckfield.

King also said that making any of the changes will likely take several years to complete. He added that more public input will be sought in late summer or early autumn.