DIXFIELD — The towns of Dixfield, Canton, Carthage and Peru voted Tuesday to withdraw from Regional School Unit 10 and form their own district.

Voters from the four towns had two questions on the ballot: whether or not to withdraw from RSU 10; and whether to form a separate school unit.

Both questions received a majority of yes votes, the requirement to approve the measures.

The other eight towns in RSU 10 are Hanover, Buckfield, Sumner, Hartford, Byron, Mexico, Roxbury and Rumford.

James Pulsifer of Peru, who voted against the withdrawal, said, ”At some point, the changing makeup of the population is going to (become) so small it’s not going to be fair to the students to keep (the schools) that small without the options that larger schools have. People in these really small schools, to me, it’s not fair to the students. I don’t think it’s a good thing; we cannot stay in the past.”

Joann Dolan of Canton said she voted for the withdrawal but she really wasn’t aware that the questions were going to be on the ballot.

“But anything for a good education, that’s what I’m for,” she said.

“I voted to withdraw, just as I voted against the Peru/SAD 21 merger, and just as I voted twice against the consolidation of the RSU,” Nick Waugh of Peru said. “If it were up to me, Peru would still be an independent municipal district. I like small size and local control.”

Withdrawal Committee member Natalie Sneller of Canton said, “As a parent of two young children that are going to be students in the Dirigo region, I think that withdrawal is going to benefit my children because there’s going to be more focus on our educational programs looking at three schools rather than a district of 12 towns and 10 schools. As a taxpayer, I like the idea that my tax dollars are going to directly benefit the kids in my region.”

The plan for the towns to leave RSU 10 was approved by the state earlier this year. At issue was residents’ belief that withdrawal from RSU 10 would give them local control of their tax dollars and save money.

Also of concern was some schools in RSU 10’s Rumford region are in need of significant repairs and updates, especially Rumford Elementary School and Mountain Valley middle and high schools. The schools in the four withdrawing towns are newer and in good condition.

Taxpayers of all 12 towns would be expected to fund the repair of the deficient facilities. A rough estimate of $40 million was given as the potential cost of the four schools staying in RSU 10.

Withdrawal Committee member Kim Dailey devised a possible first-year operating budget of $12.5 million for a new school district for school year 2017-18.

Dixfield, Canton, Carthage and Peru previously made up School Administrative District 21, but in 2011 joined RSU 10 under a mandated school consolidation law.

The towns’ withdrawal from RSU 10 will take effect June 30, 2017, and the new district will start July 1, 2017.

mhutchinson@sunmediagroup.net

How the towns voted on the questions

Dixfield

Question 1 (to withdraw): 886-374

Question 2 (create new RSU): 960-287

Canton

Question 1: 372-148

Question 2: 408-105 

Carthage

Question 1: 205-78 

Question 2: 228-52

Peru

Question 1: 526-417 

Question 2: 623-309