ANDOVER — The second and final public hearing on the town’s proposed withdrawal from SAD 44 will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 4, at the Town Hall.
The Andover Withdrawal Committee, headed by Selectman Susan Merrow, has been working with consultants for the past couple of years on the effort.
Residents will vote on the issue at the polls Jan. 7 at the Town Hall.
The town has about 100 students from kindergarten through grade 12. About 35 in grades kindergarten to five attend Andover Elementary School. Most of the remaining students attend Telstar Middle/High School in Bethel. Most will likely continue to attend the upper grades in Bethel as tuition students, if residents decide to form their own school district.
At Saturday’s public hearing, members of the withdrawal committee, along with local attorney Steve Hudspeth and former Superintendent Jack Turcotte, will answer questions and outline the advantages, disadvantages and costs of forming and operating an Andover School District.
As part of the withdrawal plan, the committee was required to develop an educational program for the town’s children. That plan was approved by the state Department of Education at the end of November.
Merrow has said that several people have taken out nomination papers to run for one of three seats on the Andover School Committee, if the withdrawal question passes.
Nomination papers, which can be picked up at the Town Office, must be turned in with the signatures of at least 25 registered Andover voters by Jan. 7.
The move to leave SAD 44 began when the district voted to close Andover Elementary School in 2011 to save money. Voters raised $214,000 over and above their school assessment to keep it open. They raised $68,000 the following year to continue to keep the school open.
Merrow and others believe retaining a school in town is crucial to the economy and growth of the town. She said an item on the regular town meeting warrant in March will also ask residents whether they want to expand the planned three-person School Committee to five members.
Additional information on the withdrawal timeline and other data may be found at the committee’s website, www.andover4kids.com
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