On January 13, the RSU 16 School Board unanimously approved the cost-sharing proposal for the Lewiston Regional Technical Center (LRTC). This agreement involves six area school districts: Lewiston, Auburn, Lisbon, RSU 4 (Oak Hill), RSU 16, and MSAD 52 (Leavitt).
Under the approved plan, RSU 16 will cover 9.68% of expenses exceeding the State’s subsidy. State subsidy is released in February. Using the past three years as a reference, this represents a predicted cost of $32,400 to provide access for 68 (a 2-year average) RSU 16 students. LRTC seats are allocated based on total high school student enrollment.
The School Board’s unanimous vote reflects strong support for our students’ participation in technical education programs, which provide career and hands-on learning experiences that prepare them for future success.
“LRTC is like no other class. It’s the class that many kids look forward to, and a class with many opportunities. I have participated in LRTC for two years now. For my junior year, I was in Food, Travel, and Tourism Management where I got to work in commercial kitchens, I got serve-safe certified, and got to make meals and serve them to the public. During my junior year, I had the opportunity to compete in SkillsUSA where I gave a demo talking about the technical skills behind making muffins. I was able to win the local competition, and advance to the state competition. There I won Gold and was able to travel to Atlanta, GA to compete against students from all over the US. For my senior year I am in the Precision Machining program where I am learning to make precise parts to fit a certain job. This class is preparing me for should I decide to become a machinist. LRTC is one of the most valuable programs with lots of opportunities for kids to get out in the trades and learn invaluable life skills.” - Elise Gagnon - PRHS and LRTC student
