Westport Island selectmen took care of the official business of appointing an Regional School Unit 12 withdrawal committee at their regularly scheduled meeting June 23 at the town office.
The four members must consist of a municipal officer, a member from the general public, and one member from the group filing the petition, according to Maine law. The fourth member is chosen by the RSU 12 board.
The selectmen appointed Selectman Gerald Bodmer, Mort Mendes, as the petitioner, and Dennis Dunbar, as a member of the public. The RSU 12 board chooses the fourth committee member from Westport Island’s committee members that are currently on the RSU board.
Westport Island citizens have been dissatisfied with the cost sharing arrangement it has had with the RSU.
Westport Island’s education committee investigated the costs of the RSU to the town and brought their findings to the citizens in a public meeting May 31.
The citizens voted June 12 to withdraw from the RSU by a vote of 152 to 70.
On June 14 the selectmen submitted a letter to Maine Dept. of Education Commissioner Stephen Bowen outlining the reasons Westport Island sought to investigate withdrawal from RSU 12.
The town’s education committee cited, “serious structural inequity in cost sharing among member towns, with the most significant lack of equity being suffered by Westport Island,” and a total local cost per student of $18,434 whereas the average local cost per student for the entire RSU 12 is just under $6500, the letter stated.
The petitioners estimated “a potential annual savings of about $400,000 which results in a potential 20 percent property tax savings as a member of another nearby AOS or RSU,” the letter continued.
The letter also stated that the voters were not dissatisfied with the quality of education offered by RSU 12, nor do they dislike the services provided or the school board or administration.
Their primary reason for considering withdrawal is the inequity of cost sharing, the letter said.
The selectmen heard reports from the Town Hall Committee, and the Wright Landing committee.
The board’s next meeting is Mon., July 2 at 7 p.m. at Westport Island Town Hall, and summer meetings will be held every other week after July 2 (July 16 and 30).
