ANDOVER — Townspeople will decide in a referendum Tuesday, Sept. 18, whether to start the withdrawal process from SAD 44. Voting will take place from noon to 8 p.m. at the Town Hall.
The question asks voters if they favor filing a petition for withdrawal, authorizing the withdrawal committee to spent $24,000 and authorizing selectmen to issue notes or pledge town credit for that amount.
The question came about after SAD 44 wanted to close the school a couple of years ago to save money, and the possibility that such as attempt will be made again.
The K-5 school has an enrollment of about 30 students.
Two years ago, the town voted to pay SAD 44 an additional $214,000 to keep the school open. For this year, the town paid an additional $68,000.
More than 75 residents turned out for a public informational meeting on the proposal in late August. The On Our Own Committee said then that if the question passed, an official withdrawal committee would be formed of a SAD 44 board member, a selectman and others. The withdrawal committee would begin negotiations with the SAD 44 superintendent.
The $24,000 would pay for legal costs and consulting assistance during negotiations.
A final vote would not be taken until an agreement is worked out, which is expected to take at least a year. Two-thirds of the voters must approve leaving SAD 44.
If Andover does leave the district, it would pay tuition for middle and high school students to attend SAD 44 or other area schools. SAD 44 members towns are Andover, Bethel, Greenwood, Newry and Woodstock.
Selectmen and the On Our Own Committee have held informal informational sessions every Tuesday for many months at the Town Office. Selectman Susan Merrow, a committee member, said Thursday that she hopes people will become informed prior to voting.
“We want people to think about what they want for the town of Andover,” she said. “I hope we have a good turnout.”
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