NEWRY — Residents overwhelmingly voted against stopping the withdrawal process from School Administrative District 44 at Tuesday evening’s referendum, said Deputy Town Clerk Kelly Scott.
Residents voted in September 2014 to authorize the Withdrawal Committee to investigate options for leaving the district, which also includes Bethel, Greenwood and Woodstock. The committee and SAD 44 school board have not reached an agreement to present to Newry voters.
Newry has few students, but its high property valuation means it pays about $3 million a year toward the $10 million annual school budget, according to published reports.
Chairman Gary Wight said the school board agreed to form a funding formula committee if the board placed an article on the June 14 warrant asking if the town wished to stop the withdrawal process.
Wight added that the cost-sharing formula committee would remain in place even if residents voted against stopping the withdrawal process.
SAD 44 Superintendent David Murphy said the cost-sharing formula committee met for the first time on May 19.
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