After tabling the issue earlier this month, the Wiscasset withdrawal committee voted 3-0 on October 25 in favor of keeping school services local instead of contracting them out.

The items include: transportation; maintenance/operation; special education; technology; and food service.

The committee did not offer any costs of those items in their discussions, but indicated the costs comparisons would be available before the town wide vote.

Committee member Tim Merry said it was the goal of the committee to have as much become local as possible. “We need to look at the best deals, but we must also look for quality.”

Public comments

There was only one member of the public from Wiscasset present, Selectman Ed Polewarczyk, who asked the committee if and when would the negotiations begin with the RSU ad hoc withdrawal committee.

Committee members said they are ready to negotiate, but the RSU ad hoc committee has not scheduled a meeting. There had been some previous indication suggested the RSU ad hoc committee didn’t want to meet until the withdrawal committee had its withdrawal plan completed.

Wiscasset’s withdrawal plan is approximately 75 percent completed, according to Chairman Mary Myers.

Slack said it is unclear to him why the RSU negotiation committee wants to wait until the withdrawal plan is complete since step eight in the procedures to withdraw from an RSU is clear.

It said: “The Withdrawal Committee shall negotiate a Withdrawal Agreement with the regional school unit board and shall submit the proposed agreement to the Commissioner within 90 days after the Committee is formed.”

Extension granted

The withdrawal committee received an answer from Stephen Bowen, Commissioner of the Department of Education, on their request for an extension in presenting the town’s withdrawal plan from RSU 12.

The committee has been given an extension until January 15, 2013 to complete the plan.

According to the procedure to withdraw the RSU board must first approval the plan before it is sent to the Commissioner of Education. Within 60 days the commissioner will either conditionally approve the plan, or make recommended changes. Once the plan has been approved by the commissioner, a public hearing will be held, prior to it going before the voters.

It is possible that another extension could be requested by the Withdrawal Committee.

Their next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 8, at 6 p.m. at the Town Office meeting room.

Charlotte Boynton can be reached at 844-4632 or cboynton@wiscassetnewspaper.com.