BETHEL — School Administrative District 44 directors will take up the issue of a possible third referendum vote on a change to the local school cost-sharing formula at its Feb 12 meeting, not at the Jan. 22 meeting, according to Superintendent Dave Murphy.
He said the item was mistakenly placed on the Jan. 22 agenda. The board’s Withdrawal Committee has decided it wishes to meet again with its attorney before the full board discusses the item, Murphy said.
The Feb. 12 meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at the Telstar High School Library in Bethel.
A formula change would financially favor the town of Newry, which is in the process of withdrawing from the district.
The Newry Withdrawal Committee voted last month to recommend to town residents that they vote to discontinue the withdrawal process, if district voters first approve a third attempt to change the formula to favor Newry.
Such a change has twice been defeated in districtwide referendums. In both votes, the idea that the withdrawal process could or would continue even if a formula change was approved was a sticking point for some non-Newry officials and voters. However, a recommendation from the Newry Withdrawal Committee for it to end might carry enough weight to terminate the process, members and others said.
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