Recently drafted withdrawal plans from Wiscasset and Westport Island have not been easy to obtain, despite this newspapers' research determining that the plans are public information.

Each withdrawal plan is supposed to detail how that school will separate itself from Sheepscot Valley Regional School Unit 12, a school district that includes Alna, Westport Island, Wiscasset, Palermo, Somerville, Windsor, Chelsea and Whitefield.

After many phone calls, a non-committal answer from the Department of Education and others, a request to Wiscasset Town Manager Laurie Smith finally paid off.

When asked why the information was being withheld from the public, Smith said was unable to give an answer, but said she would find out.

Smith sent an email to Maine Municipal Association Assistant Director of Legal Services Richard Flewelling indicating the press had asked for a copy of the draft withdrawal agreement and questioned if the withdrawal committee was exempt from freedom of access requests relative to draft negotiation documents.

Flewelling said, “There is nothing in the FOAA (Freedom of Access act) or in the RSU laws to suggest that an RSU withdrawal committee is exempt in any way from the requirements of the FOAA. “Its meetings are subject to the same requirements, including for executive sessions, as for any other municipal of school board. Likewise its records are subject to the same requirements.

“I am not aware of any public records exempt that would protect a draft of an RSU withdrawal agreement, or any other related working papers from public disclosure upon request," Flewelling said.

At the time of writing, this newspaper had finally obtained a copy of Wiscasset’s withdrawal plan, and has been assured delivery a copy of Westport Island’s plan within the new few days.

More details to follow.