SUMNER — A public hearing Saturday will give residents a chance to voice their concerns and ask questions about a proposal for the town to withdraw from RSU 10. It begins at 9 a.m. at the Town Office.

In June, organizers submitted a petition with 98 signatures asking the town to pull out of the 12-town school district. They said the cost of education is too high and the quality of education isn’t as good as in districts that pay less per student. 

Sumner, along with neighboring Buckfield and Hartford, were in SAD 39 until 2009. The district was dissolved to form RSU 10, which also includes Rumford, Mexico, Byron, Dixfield, Peru, Canton, Byron, Hanover and Carthage. 

The public hearing is an early step in the lengthy and potentially expensive withdrawal process outlined in Maine law. 

Board of Selectmen Chairwoman Mary Ann Haxton said the goal of the hearing is to listen to residents’ concerns and questions. Residents will vote in November on whether to accept the petition and move forward with withdrawal.

“Our responsibility is to make sure everybody knows what’s happening,” Haxton said. “The hearing is to say, ‘Is this, as a town, something we want to do?'” 

Haxton said selectmen will convene another informational meeting in late October to provide residents with answers to questions they might have and make sure voters are well informed before going to the polls. 

If residents agree to move forward with the withdrawal, the town will also need to budget between $25,000 and $30,000 to fund a withdrawal committee, she said.

A withdrawal petition in Buckfield was accepted by voters in June and the town is moving forward with the process. Last week, the Buckfield Withdrawal Committee held its first meeting.

Advocates for withdrawal in both towns have admitted that the effort may ultimately be unsuccessful unless Hartford also joins them in leaving the district. So far, there are no reports of a petition being circulated in the town. 

pmcguire@sunjournal.com