SUMNER — By a thin margin, Sumner voters rejected a move to begin withdrawal proceedings from the RSU 10 school district in Tuesday’s ballot.

Out of the fewer than 200 residents who turned up to the polls, 74 voted in favor of the measure, while 113 voted against it. 

Reached after polls closed Tuesday, Town Clerk Susan Runes said she was surprised the withdrawal question didn’t pass and expected a higher turnout for the election. 

If voters had approved the measure, the town would have set up a withdrawal committee to negotiate an agreement to leave the 12-town RSU 10 district and funded the committee with up to $20,000. 

Withdrawal supporters said the measure would have amounted to a fact-finding committee to determine if remaining within RSU 10 makes sense fiscally and for the quality of education. 

The town was part of SAD 39 with Buckfield and Hartford until the district was drawn into RSU 10 in 2009.

Neighboring Buckfield voted to withdraw from RSU 10 in June, and its withdrawal committee has been meeting for the past few months.

pmcguire@sunjournal.com