RSU 04 board moves Sabatus Primary closure question to voters; public hearing details services, costs and timelines

RSU 04 school officials will ask voters whether to close Sabatus Primary School in an April 8 referendum after the district’s board voted in January to send the question to the ballot and the state Department of Education approved paperwork in February.

At a March 19 public hearing, Nicole, a school board member, opened the meeting by outlining the timeline leading to the vote and asking the public to review materials posted on the district website. “So this evening, we have a lot of information to go over with you, to discuss the, decision to send to the voters a question regarding closure of Sabato's primary,” Nicole said.

Why it matters: The board and district leaders said closing Sabatus Primary would let the district focus capital and maintenance dollars on fewer buildings and reduce annual operating costs. Katie, the district superintendent, told attendees the consolidation committee — about 25 people representing all three towns — recommended the closure after facility tours and analysis. “We can fit Sabatus Primary, the staff, the students, into those 2 schools,” Katie said, and she added, “so there’s no reduction in teaching staff” as the district designs new classroom assignments at the receiving schools.

Key timeline and approvals: According to administrators, the consolidation committee considered closing both elementary buildings but recommended closing Sabatus Primary first. The board…