On Tuesday, December 9, residents of the 12 towns in the proposed Central Washington County School System overwhelmingly voted to reject an alternative organizational structure (AOS) that was proposed in order to comply with the state's school consolidation law. The overall vote in the 12 towns was 519-122 to reject the plan. Lubec residents defeated the plan by a vote of 113 to 77. The other towns involved are Machias, East Machias, Jonesboro, Marshfield, Northfield, Roque Bluffs, Wesley, Whitneyville, Machiasport, Cutler and Whiting.

If the towns fail tom comply with the state mandate, some school subsidy funds from the state will be withheld.

Scott Porter, superintendent of School Union 102 and East Machias, when asked if he was surprised by the outcome, said, "No, I wasn't surprised. I thought it would be voted down. It did not pass anywhere -- it was a tie in Northfield, 3-3. It didn't surprise me at all. I did not think it would be quite overwhelming as it was, but I knew it would be a low turnout as it was a bad day and a stand-alone referendum vote."

Porter feels that the governance structure of the 12 towns will likely remain as it is. "The regional planning committee that developed the consolidation plan can start the process again, but I don't think they will. I think they are ready to take the penalties, if they have to, and I think our work now is with the Maine legislature is to try to get the penalties repealed. We need to push, at this point, to get the law repealed. They are counting the repeal signatures as we speak."

Porter also spoke of the efforts already under way to consolidate many of the administrative functions, which is the intent of the state law. "We serve eight towns in this office. We have invited some others to come to the table to talk about sharing services. I think people in our area, with the small towns, will try to get together and share services. People that want to share services beyond what they are doing now, might get the room to do that," if the law is repealed or altered by the legislature.

Poll shows Lubec residents favor keeping high school open

In an exit poll that was held in Lubec along with the consolidated referendum vote, residents voted to keep the high school open by a vote of 107-52. Voters decided against the second proposal to keep the high school open if this increased taxes, 92-57. The exit poll was provided by the SAD 19 board of directors. Previously, residents voted 288 to 197 to close the school in an exit poll that was held during the November general election.