ANDOVER — The Andover Withdrawal Committee will meet at 7 p.m.  Tuesday, Feb. 26, at the Town Hall to update residents on the status of negotiations with SAD 44.

“We will also let people know how they can help the process,” committee Chairwoman Susan Merrow said Friday. The committee’s professional consultants will also attend.

Negotiations to withdraw from the school district began last week, Merrow said. “The sticking point is a 10-year commitment to SAD 44” to have Andover middle and high school students attend Telstar Regional Middle/High School in Bethel, she said.

According to the committee’s newsletter, one of the reasons for Andover establishing its own school district is to provide school choice for students in grades six to 12.

The withdrawal effort started after SAD 44 directors voted in April 2011 to close the century-old Andover school at the end of that school year because of declining enrollment and an aging schoolhouse, and to save money.

The school serves about 30 children in grades kindergarten to five.

Residents decided to keep it open and agreed to pay an additional $214,000, on top of its annual assessment of about $400,000, to cover costs for fiscal year 2011-12. The town paid an additional $68,000 to maintain the school this fiscal year, which ends June 30.

Andover was one of the original towns that formed SAD 44 in the late 1960s. The others are Bethel, Newry, Woodstock and Greenwood.

Once the committee and SAD 44 come to an agreement, the report will be sent to the state Department of Education for review. If approved, the DOE will set dates for a public hearing and vote.

Merrow said the committee hopes the withdrawal process will be completed before the start of the 2013-14 school year.