LEWISTON — The School Committee on Monday evening endorsed the idea of the Lewiston Regional Technical Center adding a satellite program, specifically at the proposed new Auburn high school. 

Rob Callahan, who works at the center, said they are at the very beginning of the project and wanted to bring it to the committee before proceeding. 

He said the number of students applying for spots in LRTC programs is more than the spots available, and he believes a satellite program could help open more spots. 

Callahan said with a new high school being built in Auburn, it’s a good time to bring this to the School Committee. 

He said he was “seeking endorsement to pursue this further.” 

A plan would need to be made and there would most likely be a reworking of the cooperative agreement between the schools involved.

LRTC provides programming for Edward Little, Leavitt Area, Lewiston, Lisbon, Oak Hill and Poland Regional high schools. 

A formal proposal would need to be made to the School Committee before filing an application with the state. 

The School Committee gave it endorsement for Callahan to continue looking into expanding the LRTC program, and even suggested looking into the possibility of satellite programs at other schools involved. 

The committee also approved a 100 percent grant-funded position through Lewiston public schools, to be funded by the BARR foundation grant. 

The grant was awarded to Tree Street Youth to be used by Lewiston public schools for alternative education programming. 

The committee was split on what to do about the grant, because it requires some outside business having control over some of the programming. 

Other concerns were raised about what to do about the programming after the three-year grant is up. 

“How are we going to be able to justify this program? What is the outcome we’re looking for here?” committee member Paul St. Pierre asked. 

Committee member Luke Jensen was in favor of the grant position.

“This program would help students who would otherwise not graduate at all, or would fall through the cracks,” he said. 

The committee voted 8-1 in favor of the grant-funded position, but remained divided on the future of the program.