BELFAST - The Regional School Unit 20 board of directors voted overwhelmingly Tuesday, Jan. 28, to abandon plans for a major consolidation of the eight-town district.

The question was added to the agenda by a unanimous vote on a motion made by director Denise Dakin and seconded by director Sharon Catus, both of Stockton Springs.

The vote to discontinue any courses of action for the proposed reorganization was approved 14 to 3. All board members were present for the vote. Dissenting votes were cast by directors Charles Grey and Jason Perkins. of Belfast, and Stephen Hopkins. of Belmont.

Consolidation plans, alternately referred to as reorganization plans, were brought to the table late last year in an attempt to address a trend of declining enrollment, stagnant state reimbursements and rising fixed costs.

In combination, these factors have contributed to double-digit increases in the school portion of local property tax rates for three consecutive years. The most recent budget was rejected by voters twice before a draft carrying an average tax increase of 10-percent was approved.

Last November, Superintendent Brian Carpenter, acting on a request from the board, presented seven plans designed to save money by closing schools and reducing staff.

The board quickly narrowed the field to three plans. A rough cost analysis by administrators found that two of the plans would save between $1 million and $2 million. The third would have increased costs to the district by roughly $500,000.

The plans were not well received in the community, particularly in the former SAD 56 towns of Stockton Springs and Searsport where many residents complained of being singled out for cuts.

Last year, Stockton Springs Elementary School reduced to a Pre-K program, and Searsport District Middle School and High School complex would have been closed under all but the most expensive of the three consolidation options. 

Towns that were once part of the Belfast-based SAD 34 would not have been spared in the proposed reorganization plans, all of which included some elementary school closures from that side.

The idea of consolidating all middle and high school students in Belfast, as two of the plans would have done, arguably tipped the balance. A public hearing at Belfast Area High School last week drew 100 residents, many voicing strong opposition to closing Searsport District Middle School and High School.

Speaking on Wednesday, Superintendent Carpenter said he was not expecting a vote but wasn’t entirely surprised that it happened.

“I knew something would come about because of the public conversation about reorganizing and closing schools,” he said.

Asked what happens next, Carpenter said the district would follow the usual budget process.

“Business as usual,” he said. “We look for whatever the state’s going to give us.”

Carpenter said he wouldn’t know that amount until the state releases subsidy calculations in mid February. Based upon what he has been told, he is anticipating flat funding. Meanwhile the district will likely see increases in fixed costs like insurance, heating oil and electricity, he said. 

The district is also at the start of negotiations over a new teacher contract that Carpenter said will affect the budget, at the very least through step increases based on years of service.

The superintendent said he had hoped the consolidation would help “right size” the school district to avoid placing an additional burden on taxpayers.

“But that didn’t happen,” he said. “So we’ll have to see if the community is willing to fund the education of students based on actual costs.”

Ethan Andrews can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com