NEWRY — The Board of Selectmen on Tuesday will discuss drafting a letter to School Administrative District 44 directors about possibly stopping the process of leaving the district.
The board will meet at 5 p.m. Feb. 9 at the Town Office.
Residents voted in September 2014 to authorize the Withdrawal Committee to appropriate $50,000 from surplus to investigate options for leaving the four-town district. However, the committee and the SAD 44 board have not reached a withdrawal agreement that could be presented to Newry voters. Some residents suggested selectmen ask the school board to review a possible funding formula change instead.
Newry has few students but its high property valuation means it pays about $3 million a year toward the $10 million annual budget, according to published reports. A change in the funding formula could factor in student population and shift more of the cost to Bethel, Greenwood and Woodstock.
The change would involve setting up a committee with representation from each district town and crafting a proposed formula, according to state law. A majority of district voters would have to approve it.
Town Administrator Amy Bernard asked what would happen if the town voted in March not to authorize any more money for the Withdrawal Committee.
“That would probably say something,” Withdrawal Committee member Jim Sysko said. The town could also temporarily ask for no more money, but “keep the process out there,” he said.
Also Tuesday, the board will also review bids for a Town Office security system upgrade.
In 2014, former Town Administrator Loretta Powers presented the board with bids from several companies, ranging from $800 to $9,670. The board decided to table discussion for further review.
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