By a vote of 953-768, Freeport residents on Tuesday voted to further explore withdrawal from Regional School Unit 5, which also includes Durham and Pownal.

The result marked a victory for Moving Freeport Forward, a group formed this past summer that wants more local control of the four Freeport schools. It also leaves in limbo a $14.6 million Freeport High School renovation bond, barely approved on a second vote in November.

Early in the day, Town Clerk Tracey Stevens described voter turnout as heavy. Indeed, there was a steady stream of voters entering the Town Hall in the morning hours, with only a brief lull at 11:15.

The lone article on the ballot asked voters if they wanted to expend no more than $50,000 to explore the withdrawal process – the fourth of 22 statutory steps that could lead to certification of withdrawal from the Commissioner of Education.

Tuesday’s vote marked the fourth of 22 statutory steps required by the Commissioner of Education for a town to leave a school district. Stevens will now provide written notices, by registered mail, to the secretary of the RSU and to the commissioner, advising them of the results. Next, the commissioner will direct town officials to establish a Withdrawal Committee, comprised of one town official, one member of the general public, one member from the group filing the petition (Moving Freeport Forward) and one member of the RSU 5 Board of Directors.

A second vote is necessary for withdrawal to take effect.