Andrea Main of Wiscasset said she wants everyone to have a voice in deciding whether or not to close Wiscasset Primary School. That’s why she is gathering signatures on a petition that would send the issue to a referendum vote.

Main, who has a student at the primary school and one at Wiscasset Middle School, said she finished preparing the petition Sept. 25 and brought it to Wiscasset Primary’s open house that night. At least 70 people signed it, she said in a telephone interview later Thursday night.

As of Friday morning, Sept. 26, the count was up to about 100,  Main said.

The petition needs167 valid signatures to take the referendum to the polls. Main hoped to be able to hand in the petition as early as the week of Sept. 29.

Wiscasset School Committee Chairman Steve Smith brought up Main’s plans for a petition, during the committee’s Sept. 25 meeting. Smith said if a referendum is called, a “yes” vote will agree with the School Committee and the plan to close Wiscasset Primary will go forward. A “no” vote keeps the school open, he said.

“I just want everyone to understand and not be confused at the polls,”  Smith added.

A referendum could be held as early as Nov. 29, he said. He would like it to happen as soon as possible, to maximize the time the committee has to move forward with plans to consolidate by year two of the school department.

He reiterated a scenario he discussed days earlier, in which a blocking of Wiscasset Primary’s closure could result in the committee deciding to close the middle school. If residents call for another referendum and that school’s closure is also blocked, there may not be time to come up with another way to cut $1 million from the next budget, Smith continued.

One of Main’s concerns about the committee’s Sept. 15 vote to close Wiscasset Primary is that the panel didn’t take time for more community involvement than the comments attendees shared that night.

“I was very surprised with the board’s decision to vote at the last meeting,” she said. “I guess I feel like we’re being forced to make a decision at this time.”

Main, a 2000 Wiscasset High School graduate, wants more information and more community say on consolidation. Based on what she has learned so far, she is concerned about the change the primary school’s closure would represent for its students.

Although the petition could ultimately scuttle the committee’s plan to close Wiscasset Primary, Smith and Interim Superintendent of Schools Lyford Beverage helped Main make sure the petition’s wording would comply with state law.

Main appreciated the help.

“It showed that everyone is willing to work together and do what we think is best for our children,” she said.

The petition calls for the ballot question to read: “Shall the school committee of the town of Wiscasset be authorized to close Wiscasset Primary School? The additional cost of keeping the school open has been estimated by the school committee to be $785,254.”

That’s the figure the committee cited in its vote to close the school.

Anyone wanting to sign Main’s petition may do so at the middle and primary schools, Morris Farm or the Wiscasset town office. Or call Main at 207-882-8460 for more information.

Related:

The what if’s: Smith on possible scenarios in school closure issue

School Committee votes 3-2 to close Wiscasset Primary