CARIBOU — The staff at Caribou High School is preparing for an accreditation review scheduled for next spring, according to School Superintendent Arthur Benner.

A committee from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges will conduct the review, done every 10 years.

“We don’t think that we’ll have any problems getting accreditation, but it’s a lengthy and thorough process,” Benner said after a recent Caribou School Board meeting.

“The high school staff will do a self-study of the school, which will then be presented to the committee,” he said.

Ten areas will be examined, including curriculum, student support, library services, staff, facilities, and community support.

“It will be a thorough review of all aspects of Caribou High School,” said Benner.

The superintendent explained that after the self-study is completed, a report will be issued to the committee by January. After reviewing the report, the committee will spend about four days at the school sometime in the spring.

During its visit, the committee will observe school operations to determine if the staff report accurately portrays the school. The committee will send a letter of commendations and recommendations to school officials, which will be made public.

Benner added that high school accreditation is an important factor in determining whether a student will be admitted to some colleges.

“Many colleges weigh that information heavily,” he said.

At last week’s school board meeting, members reviewed a letter from School Union 122 requesting them to consider providing bus transportation for secondary school students for the 1997-1998 school year.

The union sends its high school students to Caribou for their secondary education.

Each member town of Union 122 provides transportation for their own students to Caribou High School. About 145 students from Woodland, New Sweden, and Stockholm attend the high school.

According to Union 122 School Superintendent Peter Edgecomb, transportation cost about $18,000 this year. He explained that Union 122 pays approximately $705,425 in tuition to the Caribou school system for the high school education.

Edgecomb said Friday he was not aware that the committee was planning to discuss the issue during last week’s session.

Union 122 officials have requested that Caribou provide transportation in exchange for some of the tuition money received.

No action was taken by the Caribou panel on the request.