NEWRY — In the wake of last week’s public hearings in Augusta on bills relating to a potential Newry school withdrawal, the town managers of School Administrative District 44 are expected to meet Monday on the topic of school funding. Newry Town Administrator Amy Bernard said the purpose is to see if it would be […]
SAD 44
Posted inRiver Valley
Withdrawal process back before Newry voters on June 13
NEWRY — Voters will go to the polls June 13 to decide whether they want to end the school withdrawal process, which is intended to lead to a vote on whether to leave SAD 44. The referendum vote was prompted by a petition submitted to selectmen earlier this month by former Selectman Steve Wight. Negotiations […]
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Change in makeup of SAD 44 board could increase Newry’s representation
BETHEL — School Administrative District 44 directors learned Tuesday that a provision in state law allows for a process that could result in the reapportionment of member towns’ representation on the school board. Woodstock Director Marcel Polak, who chairs the board’s committee on Newry withdrawal, said the school board has been bound by the state’s constitutional requirements […]
Posted inBethel, Oxford Hills
Board approves extending school day to make up snow days
BETHEL — If the commissioner of the Maine Department of Education approves the plan, students in School Administrative District 44 will go to school for an extra hour for 25 days. The extended school day is one option for school districts to make up snow days without to extending the school year into late June, […]
Posted inRiver Valley
SAD 44 school board encouraged by letter from Newry withdrawal committee
BETHEL — SAD 44 Director Marcel Polak said he was encouraged by a letter from Jim Sysko of the Newry Withdrawal Committee that the committee wants to negotiate an agreement. The letter, mentioned at Monday night’s board meeting, was in response to one Sysko received from school board Chairwoman Lainey Cross on Jan. 11. Withdrawal […]
Posted inRiver Valley
Newry residents pleads with school board to ‘reset and rethink’
BETHEL — The School Administrative District 44 board of directors heard a plea Monday night to “reset and rethink” the process of Newry’s withdrawal, and issued a plea to the community concerning social media. Newry Selectman Jim Largess, who attended the meeting as a citizen, asked the directors to “step back, hit reset and rethink the […]
Posted inRiver Valley
Newry selectmen to wait and see on new bill
NEWRY — Selectmen decided Tuesday to table the Newry Withdrawal Committee’s request to ask taxpayers for $25,000 to continue the process of leaving School Administrative District 44, or terminate it. Selectmen said they want to see what the Legislature does with a new bill, which further outlines the withdrawal process. The bill is signed by […]
Posted inRiver Valley
Newry’s attempts to withdraw met with resistance from state
NEWRY — Scott Cole and state Rep. Fran Head, both of Bethel, indicated to selectmen Tuesday evening that they will continue with efforts to halt Newry’s withdrawal from School Administrative District 44. Jim Sysko of the Newry Withdrawal Committee made it clear Newry will not give up its effort. If Newry leaves, Bethel, Greenwood and Woodstock would […]
Posted inRiver Valley
Newry meeting resistance in SAD 44 withdrawal
BETHEL — Since the vote to change School Administrative District 44’s cost-sharing formula failed in November, the Newry Withdrawal Committee is moving forward with the process, but not without resistance. Residents voted Nov. 8 not to change the district’s cost-sharing formula from 100 percent valuation to 90 percent valuation and 10 percent student enrollment for […]
Posted inSpecials
SAD 44 rejects new cost-sharing formula
BETHEL — Residents of School Administrative District 44 voted Tuesday against changing the cost-sharing formula for the four member towns. The formula, which is based 100 percent on valuation, will stand. The proposed change, reportedly aimed at preventing Newry from withdrawing from the district, would have resulted in a tax increase for Bethel, Greenwood and […]