Alna’s proposed pulling of private schools as an option for the town’s publicly funded, K-8 school choice has survived a Sheepscot Valley Regional School Unit subcommittee’s investigation, according to Alna selectmen’s April 25 meeting minutes.

The minutes the town released Friday state Third Selectman Doug Baston reported the district board’s subcommittee looking into legal and other questions on the proposed ballot question decided it was proper legally, would have little on no financial impact on other member towns, and that area public schools have room for Alna students.

In supporting the question resident Ralph Hilton’s petition proposed and Alna voters passed March 23, selectmen have voiced cost concerns. They maintained Alna’s largely residential tax base can’t afford the K-8 private school option, not due to the costs of private versus public, but because towns pay the district based on their student counts.

According to a memo selectmen gave the subcommittee for its final meeting April 24, Alna’s home sales from 2013 to 2017 yielded 17 new K-8 students in private schools and one in public school, all in owner-occupied homes. The memo estimates 13 K-8 Alna students newly living in rentals go to private schools and two attend public schools.

Opponents to the change have said full, publicly funded school choice ensures Alna parents can make the best decisions for their children. They also questioned if the grandfathering would stick.

Baston said in an interview April 26, the subcommittee agreed the ballot question’s grandfathering of children living in Alna by this June 30 is legal.

In a phone interview Sunday, Hilton said given the outcome of the subcommittee, "I see no reason the board of directors wouldn't vote to move this onto the next step of an RSU-wide vote."

SVRSU 12 Superintendent of Schools Howie Tuttle said April 26, he did not know what impact the subcommittee’s report will have on board members’ votes at the question’s second reading May 10. The board meets at 6:30 p.m. at Chelsea Elementary School, Tuttle said. Because the proposal would amend the district’s reorganization plan, it needs approval in a district-wide vote at the polls, officials have said.

The April 25 minutes also note the select board is awaiting the town audit needed to get this year’s tax anticipation note. They state First Selectman Melissa Spinney will contact William Brewer Accounting Services again to try to get a date certain on the report.