RSU 10 students showcase Expanded Learning Opportunities; board hears internships, EMS training and career-focused advisory

At a Western Foothills Regional School Unit 10 board meeting, students and teacher Gretchen Kimball presented the district’s third-year Extended Learning Opportunities program, telling the board how career-focused advisory work, internships and paid work opportunities help prepare students for postsecondary life.

Kimball, who said she has spent decades in the district, described a redesigned advisory program “to focus on, giving kids a reason to be in school” and called advisory “where you plan for life.” Student speakers described course work and internships that taught employability skills, resume writing and workplace expectations. “This trimester class helped me figure out what I wanted to do after high school,” one senior said, describing a career-exploration assignment that included job-shadowing a real estate agent.

Presenters outlined several internship placements: early childhood work in a kindergarten classroom, project management of community-service efforts, an EMS training program taught at the local fire and rescue station, and paid placements with the Buckfield public works department. A student who worked with public works said the job gave him hands-on maintenance experience and new skills such as plowing and equipment maintenance.

Kimball said the program also offers a vocational 'boot camp' through vocational rehabilitation to help students transition to trade schools or two-year programs. Board members praised the students’ presentations. One board member noted the ELO program will appear in the upcoming budget packet and said she would not support cutting it.

The board did not take any formal action on ELO during the meeting; program funding will be considered as part of FY27 budget discussions.