Durham residents had a chance to speak Tuesday at a public hearing at Durham Community School to address the possibility of leaving Regional School Unit 5.

The hearing is part of a 22-step mandatory process set forth by the state following the validation of enough signatures to press an April 1 vote to move forward or remain part of the district.

If the vote fails by a simple majority, the process is over and no further action is necessary. If the town votes to leave RSU 5, the town clerk will notify the RSU 5 secretary as well as the commissioner of the state Department of Education of the results and the commissioner will hear from the town as to their reasons and intentions going forth.

The commissioner will then direct the selectmen to establish a withdrawal committee of four members — one from the selectmen, one from the general public, one member of the group filing the withdrawal petition and one member of the regional school board. The commissioner will head the committee until a chairman is selected.

On Tuesday, some residents approached the podium to speak while others shouted out questions, usually demanding what would happen to their taxes — more pointedly, if they would decrease as a stand-alone district.

One of the residents, Alice McPeake, approached the podium and asked why Durham residents should have to shoulder Freeport projects when there was no reciprocation when they entered the RSU.

McPeake said that once again, Durham voters voicing support for leaving the district will be shown numbers that say it isn’t prudent to leave the RSU — numbers she said should be viewed with skepticism.

“Nowhere do we see the additional costs we will have to pay in the future for improvements to the rest of Freeport’s schools. Morse Street, Mast Landing and Freeport Middle School — some of which need major improvements and perhaps new construction,” McPeake said.

McPeake said that Durham has had virtually no say in RSU 5 spending over the years. She said the budget is determined by the school committee and that Durham and Pownal are outnumbered. McPeake said Freeport’s higher population is a virtual guarantee that the smaller towns will have no say in budget spending.

“We pay what they tell us to pay — we’ve lost the checks and balances,” McPeake said.

McPeake said the people of Durham, through the budget process, are being told that Durham is not a poor community, ignoring the many residents struggling or on a fixed income. She said she believes the prevailing attitude is that if you don’t like it, you can sell out and move on.

Not everyone was eager to run from the district. Freeport High School sophomore Kaia Williams said staying in the RSU provides her and her friends with opportunities they might not otherwise have.

Williams said it was a good transition, going from a small community school to the relatively small Freeport High.

Williams said she gets to know her teachers well and asks them questions at any time because they aren’t in large classrooms that tax the teacher’s attention. She also said the variety of sports available provides kids with opportunities they may not have if the school leaves RSU 5.

A presentation was made by Kevin Nadeau, a member of the town budget committee, longtime resident and someone who was involved the last time Durham proposed leaving the RSU.

Nadeau explained that much of the anger over rising taxes is misdirected toward RSU 5 and its budget process. Nadeau explained that the major factors have to do with the rising state mil rate demands for education, forcing more of the burden on local municipalities to come up with budget money.

Other costs Durham would incur, as explained by Nadeau, would be things that are easily taken for granted currently in the RSU, like a new student information system that would cost between $10,000 and $15,000.

There’s also the share in the 20-year bond with RSU 5, that would most likely still cost the residents of Durham $260,617.

Then there’s the cost of out-of-district special education placements, which can cost the town between $40,000 and $56,000 per student per year not including transportation, according to Nadeau.

If the vote to leave RSU 5 on April 1 passes, the next vote will come after the withdrawal committee and the education commissioner agree on a plan. For that vote, at least 1,069 residents must vote yes or no for the count to be valid. Failure to meet the required number of ballots will mean the withdrawal fails.

dmcintire@timesrecord.com