Tech center shuts down welding lessons over safety concerns
DEXTER — Hands-on welding instruction at the Tri-County Technical Center has been shut down for the time being until safety issues are addressed at the Dexter learning space.
Two old fuel tanks are located near the welding space, instructor Jason Scholten told the SAD 46 School Board during an Oct. 7 meeting at the Ridge View Community School. The space is in violation of fire codes and OSHA regulations, he said.
The welding program is in its third year. Students may still be able to attend classes, but hands-on work is suspended for now.
“I can still teach theory in the classroom,” Scholten said.
He suggested investigating a transition to propane and having the tanks be located outside the building.
The board’s facilities and transportation committee was scheduled to meet on Tuesday evening to discuss the matter, which could be aided by having Mechanical Services inspect and issue a report on how to fix the problems.
The school board opted to table a nearly $45,000 boiler lease-purchase for TCTC.
In other business, directors approved the purchase of a 2016 Manac Aluminum trailer for $10,000 for TCTC’s commercial driver’s license program to replace an aging trailer that is headed for disposal.
The 2016 trailer has an appraised fair market value of $15,000, and seller will offer it for $5,000 less. The trailer will need new tires, for a cost close to $2,000, but $20,000 was budgeted for the purchase.
Grade 5 science teacher Meredith Josselyn told the school board about Builders Club plans to construct a shade pavilion outside Ridge View.
Club members were tasked with finding ways to better the school and community and they needed to find a problem in need of a solution. They settled on a lack of shade on the playground.
“I have students sitting behind the portojohn on a hot day, there’s nothing,” Josselyn said.
The students surveyed their peers and charted the data to determine what would best solve the problem.
“These students worked hard for the entire year putting this together,” she said.
A 20- by 10-foot pavilion would cover two picnic tables and cost $2,500. The space could be used as an outdoor classroom. The exact location on campus will be determined.
Josselyn is applying for a $1,500 grant from the Maine Environmental Education Association and she plans to contribute a $400 workshop stipend to the project. The Ridge View Boosters should be able to help come up with the remaining $600.
The next day the Dexter Development Association, Dexter’s cemetery crew and TCTC instructor Steph Perkins and her natural resource students helped plant trees along the school playground to provide some shade.
Trees were purchased using part of a Project Canopy Tree Grant. The Dexter Development Association previously secured the grant early in its “Bring Back the Beach” campaign, allowing tree plantings around the town, including the beach, airport, ice skating rink, Ellms field and more.
Ridge View Principal Jessica Dyer said enrollment for the pre-K to grade 8 school has dropped to 504 from 538 a year prior. Part of the reason is last year’s eighth grade class totaled 70, but the 2026-27 kindergarten count is 50.
The Tiger boys soccer team is unbeaten, with just one tie, and should do well in the upcoming Penquis League tournament.
The other teams have shown growth over the season despite losing records, Dyer said.