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District secession discussed in Starks

By Erin Rhoda erhoda@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer

STARKS -- The town now has a committee to research issues surrounding how to secede from the school district.

Twenty-two people gathered Monday night to discuss seceding from Madison-based School Administrative District 59, raising issues of finances, district leadership and how to transition students.

Sixteen people signed up for the committee to pursue options relating to withdrawing, but anyone is welcome at committee meetings, Selectman Joe Miller said. While the committee is not part of the legal process of secession, it is advisory, "to know what our options are and what we're getting into," Selectman Paul Frederic said.

In attendance on Monday were Rep. Paul Gilbert, D-Jay, and Anson-based SAD 74 Superintendent Kenneth Coville. Both said they were interested in learning more about what happens in Starks and assisting when possible.

Selectmen and residents said they believe Starks' fewer than 100 students would be better served in the neighboring Mt. Blue Regional School District, which is based in Farmington.

Residents have cited financial savings as a reason for the possible withdrawal from SAD 59, which also includes Madison, Athens and Brighton Plantation. While nothing is definite, selectmen have estimated Starks could save about $75,000 per year if it joins the Farmington district.

"We're in a time where we pay more for less, or a lot more for the same. This may be a situation where we pay less for more," Frederic said.

Residents also expressed frustration about the district's weighted vote system, which leaves Starks' two school board members with 9.5 percent of the board' total vote.

"(Starks school board members) don't have a say," said resident Gwen Hilton. While she acknowledged that the transition of students from one district to another would be difficult, she said the Farmington district offers better educational services.

And education should be the bottom line, she said. "I think that the best thing that we can do as a town is be positive about what we're doing, show concerns about the other kids in the rest of the district, all of the kids, and encourage people in Madison to make change," she said.

Under the weighted system, which aligns each town's population and property valuation with voting power, board members have made some decisions that many Starks residents have deemed unfavorable, including closing Starks Elementary School.

But Tina Oliver said she was worried about her children transitioning to a different district where they wouldn't know other students.

"I will move before my kids switch districts, and it's sad to say," Oliver said.

"All life is involved with change," Rick Fayen countered. "There always has to be somebody who is the pioneer."

Frederic said that there would be a transition period for students, under state law, but that the committee would be responsible for researching it more. "That's one of the tough pieces," he said. "There are a lot of things I can't answer."

Carol Coles, a former Starks school board member, said she was saddened by the apparent lack of academic improvement in SAD 59. She was particularly "dismayed," she said, that the school board did not vote to apply for federal funding in February, available after Madison Area Memorial High School was named one of Maine's "persistently lowest-achieving" schools, based on the last three years of SAT scores.

"It breaks my heart for the kids here," she said.

Miller and Frederic cautioned that the secession process is complicated and could take years. "It's important that we keep balance here and not go too far one way or another too early in the game," Miller said.

Residents are "fairly disappointed with leadership in SAD 59 at this point in time. It doesn't mean that leadership can't change," Frederic said.

Mike Cormier, superintendent of the Mt. Blue district, said, "We'd absolutely be willing to sit down and talk with any town that was interested in talking with us in regards to shared services or educating children."

The Farmington district has the room to absorb 100 students in prekindergarten through grade 12, he said.

Some Farmington residents say they want to learn more about Starks' plan to secede.

Karen West grew up in Farmington. One of her children graduated from Mt. Blue High School, and she has two other children in the district.

"It just raises a lot of questions. What are the benefits for both (districts), and what are the disadvantages?" she said.

The districts may need to adjust bus routes, classroom sizes, local tax impacts and the school board's voting system, she said. But she said she understood Starks residents' desire to pursue joining a different district.

"What's best for the kids is the most important thing," she said.

Ron Gelinas is the owner of Mainestone Jewelry in Farmington, and his daughter attends the high school. "I'd want to know more about it," he said. "SAD 9's struggling, too."

Derek Katzenback, of Farmington, said it is possible that Starks' situation could change in the time it takes to create and approve a secession plan.

"It's such a complicated situation that processes might even change by the time they create the plan," he said. "I think it's noble, though, that they're at least looking to fix the problem. A lot of people just don't do anything and complain."