Wiscasset voters overwhelming voted to withdraw from the Sheepscot Valley Regional School Unit 12 in municipal polling Nov. 5.
Sixty-six more voters than the minimum 833 needed to validate the vote participated, favoring withdrawal 613 to 280.
In a related article, Wiscasset residents approved funding the withdrawal by authorizing a $2 million bond. The voters turned down the petition option of withdrawing the money from the reserve account.
The vote concludes nearly two years worth of efforts to withdraw from RSU 12. Doug Smith, chairman of the Wiscasset Educational Research Panel, a citizen’s group that led the withdrawal effort, said he was very pleased with the outcome.
“That was a landslide, Smith said. “I am very happy for the children and the taxpayers of Wiscasset. We now can look forward to rebuilding our school system.”
With the withdrawal effort successful, Wiscasset will need to hold an election to choose a Wiscasset School Committee to prepare a budget for the 2014-15 academic year.
As of next July 1, 2014, Wiscasset will no longer be a member of RSU 12.
Smith, fellow WERP member Sharon Nichols, and Eugene Stover have publicly declared their willingness to serve on the town’s new school committee.
Wiscasset is the first town to withdraw from RSU 12. Three other towns in the RSU 12 are in the process of considering withdrawal: Westport Island, Palermo, and Windsor.
Among other warrant articles decided Tuesday, Wiscasset voters approved capital improvement projects to replace force main replacements, interceptor improvements and pump station upgrades for the town’s sewer system and treatment plant. The vote was 492 in favor and 371 opposed.
To help fund the project, Wiscasset will apply for a $226,000 grant from the United States Department of Agriculture and loan $974,000 loan from the U.S. Rural Development. The total cost is not to exceed $1.2 million.
Voters approved the adoption of an adult entertainment ordinance, 487 to 345, and a road standard ordinance, 554 to 267.
