Divisions among Freeport residents regarding the town’s possible withdrawal from Regional School Unit 5 surfaced during a public hearing on the issue held Tuesday night at the Freeport Community Center.

Fewer than 50 people attended the meeting, which was open to residents of Freeport, Durham and Pownal. The session lasted less than an hour, but did reveal a marked difference of opinion on withdrawal.

Two months remain until Freeport voters decide on Nov. 4 if they want to withdraw.

Rod Regier, the 2009 Citizen of the Year in Freeport, is among those who expressed misgivings about the town leaving RSU 5. Regier said he has spoken with many Durham and Pownal residents who are fed up with the process that led to a withdrawal agreement last month. Freeport High School will suffer because of that, he said. Durham and Pownal students will have school choice if Freeport withdraws.

“I think that we should be prepared for a substantial dip in the enrollment,” Regier said.

Shari Broder disagreed, saying that a fair compromise was reached between the Withdrawal Committee and the RSU 5 Working Group.

Eric Bryant and Joe Migliaccio, a former town councilor, both spoke in favor of the withdrawal agreement.

“This is a rest button,” Migliaccio said. “Let’s move this forward. Pownal and Durham are always going to be part of our town, our schools.”

Chris Parker of Freeport took a different stand – more in line with Regier’s.

“I don’t feel it’s in Freeport’s best interest to withdraw,” Parker said.

Parker added that the high school will be falling apart, transportation would be a problem for Durham and Pownal students, the school will lose students and, it turn, teachers and class offerings.

The Town Council on Tuesday night, Sept. 2, will get a preliminary look at budget figures for a stand-alone Freeport school unit.