Now that Wiscasset has chosen to withdraw from Regional School Unit 12, a citizens' group that supported the move has probably run its course, its chairman said.

“That work is basically over at this point. We formed to look at all the options,” Wiscasset Educational Research Panel Chairman Doug Smith said.

When WERP's research pointed to withdrawal as the town's best option, panel members spoke and wrote publicly in favor of it.

Letters to the editor by Smith and WERP member Sharon Nichols probably made a big difference in helping the yes vote prevail, WERP advisor Gene Stover said.

“I think they went out and got all the facts,” Stover said about the group. “They did a great job and I guess the community was listening, and reading,” said the former Wiscasset School Committee chairman and Wiscasset representative to the school district's board. Stover said he was never a WERP member because when it formed, he was still on the district board.

He was delighted that voters favored the withdrawal, he said.

Nichols said she was very pleased with the vote's outcome.

“Now the town of Wiscasset has a new opportunity to improve the quality of education, right-size our schools and reduce the tax burden,” she said.

Ahead of the vote, Nichols was concerned about the possibility that voter turnout might not meet the state's threshold to make a yes vote trigger the withdrawal.

“The turnout and support were wonderful,” Nichols said of the 613-280 vote. (Six blank ballots brought the total turnout to 899.)

“It shows people want to participate in the decision-making process, they want their vote to count,” Nichols said. “I believe the citizens were dissatisfied with the quality of education, the increases in taxes and the loss of local control.”

“We provided them with the information they were looking for as to why withdrawal would be a good move for Wiscasset,” she said.

“I think it's a great thing for the kids and in the long run for the taxpayers,” Smith said about the town's choice.