SALEM TOWNSHIP — SAD 58 directors on Monday accepted Eustis’ withdrawal proposal by a 4-3 vote, agreeing on ways to divide costs and share services after the town leaves the district.

The school board’s primary concern was the amount to charge for high school student tuition and its implementation. The Maine Department of Education pays a yearly amount per student to school districts. That amount varies each year and is calculated through a complex formula, based on each district’s unique needs, property valuations and economic profile.

“We have no control over the state average,” Phillips director Dan Worcester said. “We’re a small fish in a very big pond.”

The tuition reimbursement does not include what several directors consider a significant expense for the district — its extracurricular programs. The district transports students to Foster Technology Center, to sports events, concerts, competitions, college tours and field trips — costs taxpayers agree to absorb each year.

Lengthy debate centered around a fair way to charge Eustis for its share.

All district towns pay a fixed share, whether they have students participating in the extracurricular activities or not, Worcester said.

“Does that include Adult Education?” Eustis committee’s consultant, Marc Eastman, asked. “What’s the figure?”

Directors agreed that not every tuitioned student paid the same costs to the district. The town of Carrabassett Valley has chosen to pay a higher percentage over the annual state reimbursement, but students from the unorganized townships do not pay any extra over the state rate.

Superintendent Brenda Stevens told the board that an average of 24 Eustis students can be expected to attend Mt. Abram High School over the next few years. Students also may choose to attend other schools, including Mt. Blue High School in Farmington, Rangeley Lakes Regional High School, Carrabassett Valley Academy and Carrabec High School in Anson.

“We want to be covered for the costs for your kids to go here,” Avon director Ellen James said.

Worcester suggested that the district should ask for 10 percent per pupil over the annual state reimbursement amount. Phillips director Diana Thomas said last year’s $9.8 million budget, divided by the total number of students, comes to $12,531 per student. If the state continued to pay an average of $9,800 per student, she suggested that asking Eustis to pay another 10 percent would be a fair way to cover the difference.

Both groups withdrew for several discussion sessions, and they ended the two-and-a-half hour meeting with an agreement that Eustis would pay a 5 percent increase over the state’s annual reimbursement rate. The agreement includes several financial agreements, including Stratton Elementary School debt service payments, staff contracts and a $28,000 payment for each special education student. Eustis will transport students to and from the high school.

The four directors voting for the agreement included Kim Jordan (Kingfield), Judy Dill (Kingfield), Sarah Strunk (Eustis) and Marc Edwards (Strong). Voting against the agreement were Diana Thomas (Phillips), Dan Worcester (Phillips) and Ellen James (Avon). Director Ann Schwink (Strong) was absent, and Sue Fotter (Eustis) recused herself from voting, since she has been part of the Eustis Withdrawal Committee negotiations.

Eustis committee members will take the withdrawal plan to the commissioner of the Department of Education for approval. The board and committee will schedule a public hearing before Eustis voters accept or reject the final agreement.