The formation of Regional School Unit 5 in 2009 fundamentally changed the way Durham, Freeport and Pownal work together. A citizen’s petition to vote on Freeport’s withdrawal from the RSU will soon go to referendum, and has triggered many questions. Dozens of communities across the state are having this same debate. Why should we dissolve the RSU model and go back to local control?

Simply look at the facts to see that we have not benefitted – and our schools have suffered.

The cost sharing formula ensures that Freeport pays 66 percent of the RSU’s local costs, while we have 61 percent of the students. This means we pay a disproportionate share of the budget.

Educational programs have been cut, while administrative costs have skyrocketed. We have fewer ed techs, gifted and talented programs were reduced, and classroom resources for our skilled teachers have been scaled back.

Durham and Pownal have lost free choice, and are forced into an inflexible model. We worked well together before the RSU, and now relations have turned contentious.

The RSU has bound us into a system that does not allow for cooperation with area towns. Brunswick has 369 vacant spots at their high school, while RSU 5 contemplates building additional capacity.

The state projected cost savings that never materialized, and threatened non-conforming districts with penalties that were never levied. Despite the promises, capital funds for new infrastructure never became available.

Please join your community and support Freeport’s withdrawal from RSU 5. This is our one chance to take back our schools. We owe it to our teachers and students. Vote no to the RSU – vote yes for a return to local control.

Jerry Antl

Freeport