DIXFIELD — The Regional School Unit 10 board learned this week that four district towns have until May 2 to provide a withdrawal agreement to the state.

Maine Department of Education acting Commissioner William Beardsley sent a formal notification of the deadline extension to the RSU 10 board.

Withdrawal committees from Peru, Canton, Carthage and Dixfield have been working on an educational plan for more than a year. The towns made up SAD 21, which merged with SADs 36 and 39 to form RSU 10. 

The other RSU 10 towns are Buckfield, Hartford, Sumner, Rumford, Mexico, Roxbury, Byron and Hanover.

In other business, the board overwhelmingly approved naming a new softball field in Dixfield for longtime Dirigo High School coach Sally Clark. Board members said Clark has coached hundreds of Dirigo students over 28 years.

In a related matter, the board approved a request by Dirigo senior Emma Leuders to purchase new bleachers for that field. Students will raise money to pay for the bleachers, she said.

In other matters, Special Education Director Clarissa Fish requested hiring another school psychologist and a part-time clinical social worker. She said 574 district students receive special services in a academic and behavioral programs.

The board also learned:

• a Drug Abuse Resistance Education  graduation will be held at 6 p.m. March 29 in Muskie Auditorium of Mountain Valley High School;

• a teacher workshop day is scheduled March 18, which will include a presentation on a new teacher evaluation professional growth model; and

• staff retirements include Dirigo Elementary School educational technician Prudence Schofield; Rumford Elementary School grade 2 teacher Rebecca Kerr, and Rumford Elementary School Title I teacher Linda Howe.

The resignation of Meroby Elementary School guidance counselor Joseph Bailey was accepted.

The next board meeting is March 28 at Dirigo Elementary School in Peru.