DIXFIELD — The first meeting of the Withdrawal Committee has been set for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 2. The site has yet to be determined, although RSU 10 Superintendent Tom Ward said it will be at either the Town Office or the RSU 10 Central Office.
At that first meeting, which is open to the public, the four committee members will elect a chairman and possibly begin plans for negotiations with the RSU 10 board and the educational process for the town’s students.
Jon Holmes, a local businessman, circulated the petition to explore withdrawing from RSU 10. Dixfield residents later approved beginning the withdrawal process, along with using $50,000 from the town, at the polls on Nov. 6.
So far, committee members are Holmes, RSU 10 Dixfield board member Bruce Ross and Dixfield Selectman Bob Withrow.
A fourth member may be appointed at the Dixfield selectmen’s meeting on Monday. Local resident Todd Blodgett is listed on the agenda as a potential Withdrawal Committee member.
The move to look into pulling out of RSU 10 began several months ago when Ward made a tentative proposal to combine Dirigo and Mountain Valley high schools. That idea has since been shelved.
Holmes believes that combining the former SAD 21, Dixfield, SAD 43, Rumford and Mexico, and SAD 39, Buckfield, in 2009, has not saved money for taxpayers and towns, according to a recent email.
Ward has said that up to $3 million has been saved by cutting positions and making other modifications to the combined school region.
Holmes also said via email that Dixfield is determined to “go all the way” with the withdrawal process.
He had said, too, that he is looking to the other towns that once formed SAD 21 to take steps to leave RSU 10.
So far, a petition has been presented to the Carthage Board of Selectmen on Dec. 3, First Selectman Steve Brown said. He said the petition was signed by 26 residents and asked for the town to raise up to $3,000 to begin the withdrawal process. He further said that petition presenter Marianne Young, a parent of a Dirigo High School student, asked that nothing be done until Dixfield goes through the withdrawal process.
In Peru, Selectman Kathy Hussey said former Selectman Dan Wing is currently circulating a similar petition, but it has not yet been submitted to selectmen. A Canton spokeswoman said she knows of no such move in her town.
All Dixfield Withdrawal Committee meetings are open to the public.
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