Wiscasset School Superintendent Jay McIntire received word from the Maine Department of Education that the school system's Notice of Intent for the school reorganization plan, submitted by Wiscasset, Alna, and Westport Island, failed to meet the state's requirements.

The three towns reported that they took a vote in favor of the nine towns joining together at a meeting with School Union 47 (Arrowsic, Georgetown, Phippsburg, West Bath, and Woolwich) and the Bath school district. According to the letter from Commissioner of Education Susan Gendron, the Notice of Intent does not comply with the requirements of law because there were no mutual notices of intent filed between the three towns and the other units in the region.

The Notice of Intent filed by School Union 47 and Bath, sent by William Shuttleworth, Superintendent of Schools, said, "Concurrent with the above Notices of Intent to file, the transition team for our region will continue to make every consideration to include the municipalities of Wiscasset, Westport Island and Alna into our new region. These three communities will be filing a Notice of Intent with the department to align with our communities under LD910."

According to Wiscasset School Superintendent Jay McIntire, it appears that Gendron may have missed the second paragraph of Shuttleworth's letter, and she is currently out of the country for the next few weeks.

The Notice of Intent Shuttleworth sent said, "We are continuing dialogue and planning with Wiscasset, Alna, and Westport Island without making any commitment to their inclusion without provisions that guarantee minimal fiscal impact on original participating members of the new RSU (Regional School Unit)."

Shuttleworth said this week, "It is my fullest intent to continue conversations with Wiscasset, Westport Island and Alna. At this time, we need to insure passage of LD910 [voters in the towns must approve forming a district under LD910] and the citizens of our communities were becoming very concerned with the high shifts of expenses to LD910's nine original towns. We will propose that a subcommittee of the Transition Team work with these communities during this important time."

"I regret the disappointment and anger that has been directed my way regarding my recommendations to have the referendum in November for only Bath and School Union 47 communities," Shuttleworth said.

"In the long run, I believe it is wise to allow Wiscasset to more carefully align their budget with current enrollment and its motivates the Department of Education to support transition funding for them to become part of the new regional school unit.'

McIntire told the Westport Island Selectmen Monday evening it has been a roller coaster ride for the three communities (Wiscasset, Alna and Westport Island).

"It has been very frustrating," he said. "We must be patient and not lose focus. We cannot do anything until after the LD910 has been accepted by the voters in School Union 47 and Bath. We must keep our eyes on the prize of moving forward and becoming part of the LD910."

McIntire said LD910 is the best vehicle for these three communities, because it is a local law, and changes can be made with the approval of the Department of Education with little problem since it doesn't affect the whole state.

Westport Island resident Sandra Crehore, a member of the school reorganization team said, "LD910 is the way to go, and I would hope that we will be part of the group when the 2008 school year starts."

The Westport Selectmen voted unanimously at their meeting to support LD910 and the amendment allowing them to join with Bath and School Union 47.

Gendron's letter to McIntire said her department will arrange a meeting in the region "to discuss the long-term sustainability of the units within the region and will invite representatives from Alna, Westport Island, Wiscasset, Bath, and Union 47."

"A more detailed financial analysis will be presented and department staff and facilitators will be available to assist in further exploration of reorganization options within the region. The Department is aware of the additional task you have of examining requirements of both LD910 and LD499, the state's reorganization plan."