Both Durham and Pownal are now seeking volunteers to fill the positions on a town advisory committee to work with the Regional School Unit 5 board members from each town on Freeport’s possible withdrawal from the RSU.
The Pownal selectmen will name the committee, which will consist of at least six residents, on Monday, Jan. 20. The Durham Board of Selectmen will fill the positions when it next meets on Jan. 28.
Tim Giddinge, chairman of the Pownal board, said Tuesday that an RSU working group, which consists of Durham and Pownal school board members, has started to meet. This group will negotiate a withdrawal agreement with the Freeport Withdrawal Committee.
The advisory committees from Durham and Pownal will keep the RSU working group informed on the needs of the students of each town, including possible new facilities for its high school students and, in the case of Pownal, its middle school students. Transportation and other issues also will be part of the advisory committee’s concerns, Giddinge said.
The advisory committee will consist of a parent from each school-age group, elementary, middle and high school; a resident without children in school; a resident with a history in finance; and at least one selectman.
Giddinge said he does not know yet when or how often the advisory committee will meet.
Both the working group and the withdrawal committee will work to have a withdrawal recommendation for the commissioner of the Maine Department of Education by June. A second and final Freeport vote on withdrawal from RSU 5 would take place in November, according to early plans.
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