Withdrawal committee approves wording changes to agreement and authorizes attorney to send revised budget exhibit

The Town of Buckfield withdrawal committee voted unanimously to accept a set of edits to the withdrawal agreement with RSU 10 and authorized the committee's attorney to send a revised budget exhibit and final documents to the RSU.

Kristen, the committee attorney, outlined the committee's negotiating position on several drafting points, including new language for section 17c to allow certain positions to be combined at the election of the new RSU board and clearer descriptions in the portable classroom exhibit distinguishing assembled units from unassembled units. "The unassembled unit currently located at Buckfield will remain with RSU 10," Kristen said when describing the exhibit language she planned to include.

The committee also directed that certain assets be listed with clarifying notes: a nutrition van will be included on the vehicle exhibit even if it may not be functional; a noted tractor and its attachments (snowblowers, mowers) will remain with the Scotts towns; and handheld tools are already accounted for in the body of the agreement, the committee confirmed.

Connie, identified in the meeting as central office staff, told members she had compiled superintendent agreements and other potential revenue sources but warned that enrollment trends will limit revenue gains. "The number of students leaving is significantly greater than a number of students staying," Connie said, adding that superintendent agreements "are not going to produce much if if anything at all." Committee members asked for clarification on a previously cited figure of 74 students leaving; the chair said she would follow up to confirm whether that number covered the whole district or specific sending towns.

After discussion, Chad Olsen Parker moved to accept the committee's recommended adjustments to the withdrawal agreement; a second was recorded in the transcript and the chair called the question. The committee voted unanimously to adopt the changes. Later, a separate motion to authorize the committee's attorney to send the revised revenue exhibit and accompanying letter to RSU 10 also passed unanimously.

Kristen said she will prepare final, clean copies of the agreements and the revised budget exhibit to provide to RSU 10, and asked members to attend the RSU meeting to answer questions if possible. Committee members confirmed the RSU meeting is scheduled for Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. in the Mountain Valley High School library (use the first entrance); remote access via Teams was noted as an option.

The committee discussed logistics to complete signatures before the filing deadline, including the use of DocuSign when in-person signing is not possible. The group scheduled a potential brief follow-up meeting on Thursday to sign documents if needed and then adjourned.