Public talk about Wiscasset leaving its school district has largely happened in formal confines like hearings or other steps in the legal process to withdraw.

But at the Senior Center September 18, a discussion took place that no withdrawal law required.

The center's members had asked selectmen to come talk about the withdrawal, ahead of the vote in November that would seal the deal. Board members welcomed the chance to make clear what people are voting on, and answer voters' questions.

Three were able to make it: Chairman Ed Polewarczyk, Vice Chairman Judy Colby and Selectman Jeff Slack. Slack helped work out the withdrawal deal voters will weigh November 5.

Those were enough members to make it an official board meeting, but it lacked the feel of one. Before it opened, there was the center's Wednesday night supper and then a pass-the-mic, joke-telling session that got the room laughing.

When the meeting started, talk turned serious, with options Polewarczyk outlined for paying withdrawal costs and the first year's school budget. Paying it all through taxes would be a non-starter, he said. It would mean a tax hike of $7.50 for every $1,000 of of a property's assessed valuation.

Taking out a bond or tapping the town's reserve fund could cut the tax hike to $3.10 per $1,000, Polewarczyk said. (Selectmen have come out in favor of a bond and against using reserve money.)

Then, there is the issue of a withdrawal's impact on the quality of a Wiscasset education, Polewarczyk said. He's disappointed that more attention hasn't been paid to that, he said.

Residents' comments touched on a number of issues.

Leaving the district wouldn't translate to the local control people say they want back, Wiscasset resident Dan Bigley said. Education really comes down to what a teacher teaches, and the state and federal governments have a hand in deciding what that is, the retired school administrator said.

Talk also turned to Wiscasset High School's enrollment, still down from the numbers when Maine Yankee was open. Frank Barnako, who serves on Wiscasset's investment advisory committee, wondered if the town would be better off paying tuition for high school students to attend schools outside town.

“Why don't you get out of the high school business, since there's not a lot of business,” Barnako asked.

There are some good-quality schools outside the district, he said.

Doc Schilke of the Senior Center said members are hoping to have more discussions with town officials and others on community issues that come up for votes.

“I think this is a great start,” Schilke said.

Susan Johns can be reached at 207-844-4633 or susanjohns@wiscassetnewspaper.com