In polling Jan. 27, voters overwhelmingly rejected the proposed Alternative Organization System (AOS) proposed for 11 Lincoln County towns but enough voters approved the measure that a local AOS will still be formed.
Every town in Union 74, Damariscotta, Newcastle, Bremen, Bristol, South Bristol, Nobleboro, and Jefferson, currently in Union 132, approved the proposal to form the Central Lincoln County School System, while Edgecomb, Southport and the Boothbay Region CSD voted it down.
The vote including all towns was 907 to 686, not to approve the consolidation plan. Since all Union 74 towns approved the plan, the proposed AOS met the 1200 student minimum threshold, and those towns can move forward, according to Union 74 Superintendent Bob Bouchard.
Union 74 voters were much more accepting of the plan. Residents in the Great Salt Bay towns voted 203 to 35 to accept it. 175-38, Jefferson also approved the plan by a nearly four to one margin, 175-38.
With vote tallies in, residents living in the Boothbay Region CSD, (75 Yes, 470 No), Edgecomb (15 Y, 104 N), and Southport (6 Y, 147 N) overwhelmingly opposed the plan with more than four times the ‘no’ votes. Those towns may be forced to fund their own central office location and face subsidy penalties going forward, Bouchard said.
“Union 74 tried to make the best of the situation,” he said. “Our school boards are ready to move forward next week, and appoint representatives to the AOS board. We have a lot of work ahead of us, and not a lot of examples to follow.”