WASHBURN, Maine — Leaders with Maine School Administrative District 45 have changed the focus and name of an exploratory committee created in the spring to consider the future of Washburn High School.
The district’s High School Closure Exploratory Committee met for the first time on July 25 to discuss the potential negative and positive impacts of closing Washburn High School.
Ryan Rackliffe, chair of the MSAD 45 board of directors, said the meeting was a productive one and ended with a decision by the board to change the focus of the committee.
“We have had amazing support from the community in favor of keeping the high school open,” Rackliffe said.
The original committee was formed to consider closing the high school, which serves about 100 students. Any such proposal would require approval from local voters in the towns of Washburn, Wade and Perham.
The revamped committee, now known as the High School Utilization & Review Committee, is now tasked with monitoring and reviewing the high school’s student population, education quality and cost-effectiveness compared to other school districts of a similar size, Rackliffe said.
The idea of closing Washburn High School has been floating around the three communities for years amid increasing property taxes, declining population and school funding challenges. But Rackliffe said there is strong sentiment in favor of keeping the high school and that examining the idea of closing it doesn’t make sense right now.
The new committee will meet quarterly and next convene on Nov. 7, Rackliffe said.
In related news, MSAD 45 adopted its next school year’s budget relatively quick this year, with the budget passing on June 21. The district received $120,390 more than anticipated from the state, a major financial relief for the three communities, Rackliffe said.
The district’s total 2017-2018 budget is $3.39 million, about $21,000 more in total than last year.
