ROCKLAND, Maine — City councilors voted unanimously Monday night to place two school-related questions on the November ballot — one that would begin the district withdrawal process.
Councilors stressed they had not made up their minds on whether the city should withdraw and stressed that the start of the process — if approved by voters on Nov. 3 — only would launch a study. A second public vote would be required before withdrawal could occur.
The council approved $20,000 for a withdrawal committee, which would be created if voters approve the referendum question.
The vote on the withdrawal question was largely a formality since petitioners gathered sufficient signatures to force the referendum.
The council initiated a second ballot question that would ask residents whether the city should explore other education options that could improve local education while minimizing costs. Those options include a municipal-through-eighth-grade system and older students attending a regional high school; a municipal kindergarten-through-12th grade school system; as well as possible changes to the funding and governance structure of RSU 13.
City Councilor Larry Pritchett said voters could approve both the advisory question and the withdrawal referendum, approve one and not the other, or reject both.
One citizen spoke out at the public hearing on the withdrawal referendum. Doug Curtis Jr., sporting a Rockland Fighting Tigers cap, urged the council to put the item on the ballot.
He said Rockland is not getting its money’s worth from RSU 13.
“I think it is obvious to even the most casual observer that the RSU 13 administration has not been fully committed to the communities in which they serve,” Curtis said.
Councilor Valli Geiger said she is not sure whether she supports withdrawal but that a further conversation is needed. She said families are moving out of Rockland and others are not moving here because of the need for improvements in the school system.