1. Vote on Nov 7 Remove the threat to closing Sebago Elementary School
Protect what is best for our students and our town

2. Sebago’s School History
Sebago had its own schools
Sebago Elementary
Potter Academy
We joined MSAD61 in 1966
Statewide consolidation effort 2007
MSAD61 response
reduce costs
Reduce # elementary schools to 2 or 3
Close Sebago Elementary

3. The Threat of Closing Sebago Elementary
MSAD61 School Board can vote at any time to close our elementary school
PDT Architects Elementary Facility Report
May 26, 2015
Option #2 – Expand CRES and close SES
Previous studies have recommended reducing the number of elementary schools from 4 to 3

4. The Threat of Closing Sebago Elementary
Final Report of the Facilities Committee to the SAD #61 School Board
March 30, 2009
Redistrict K-5 students into three K-5 buildings               
Comment – “Moving all the students from a town would be vastly preferable to moving just a few”

5. The Threat of Closing Sebago Elementary
The expansion of Crooked River Elementary School would be large enough to house Sebago’s students
If CRES expansion is built, public comments by the MSAD61 board and Superintendent are that SES would likely be closed

6. Arguments for closing Sebago Elementary
Smallest student population in MSAD61
1996 – 164 students
th Grade moved to Middle School
2011 – 89 students
2015 – 79 students
2016 – 93 students
2017 – 90 students
Cost/student higher than rest of MSAD61

7. If Sebago Were Closed
Students would be bused to Crooked River and Songo Locks
Grades 3-5 at an expanded Crooked River
K, Grades 1-2 at Songo Locks
4 and 5 year-old children would be on a bus for up to 1 ½ hours each way to and from school
District would save $591,402 annually

8. Options for Sebago Stay in MSAD61 Renegotiate our contract with MSAD61
SES closed, students bused
Pay our 14.3% of total MSAD61 budget/yr.
Renegotiate our contract with MSAD61
Withdraw from MSAD61

9. Renegotiate Our Contract
Unsuccessfully tried to get guarantee that SES cannot be closed
Not successful in getting a more equitable valuation formula
Not successful in getting better school choice options

10. Withdraw from MSAD61 22 Step lengthy process
Title 20-a, MRSA 1466
25 other Maine towns have withdrawn since FY2013
7 to join other SAD/RSUs
18 to operate their own schools

11. How have other towns dealt with withdrawal?
Stratton/Eustis withdrew from MSAD 58 in 2013
“An extremely positive experience”
“We have gained our independence and control over the future of our school”
“Closely connected to the vitality of our community going forward”

12. How have other towns dealt with withdrawal?
Athens withdrew from MSAD 59 in 2013
“Saving our school was our first priority”
“Educational quality was better locally”
“Many social benefits of our small community school for our young children”

13. How have other towns dealt with withdrawal?
Cherryfield withdrew from MSAD 37 in 2013
“Our town is better [for withdrawal]”
“Being an independent Municipal school [has not increased our costs]”
“[Town costs are] about 25% less per student than [if we were with] the SAD”

14. How have other towns dealt with withdrawal?
Andover withdrew from MSAD 44 in 2015
“One of the greatest things we ever did”
“Our school continues to be an important center for our community”

15. The Process to Withdraw from MSAD61
Step 1 - Process started with voter petition
Step 3 – Sebago Public Hearing
Step 4 – Referendum approve withdrawal
Majority vote of Sebago voters
335 Yes – 58 No votes
Step 6 – Withdrawal Committee appointed

16. The Process to Withdraw from MSAD61
Step 8 – Negotiate with MSAD61
Terms of Sebago’s withdrawal
School of Guaranteed Acceptance
Future status of SES building
Teacher and Staff Contracts
Debt service obligations
Withdrawal schedule

17. The Process to Withdraw from MSAD61
Step 9 - Withdrawal Agreement to DOE
Step 10 - DOE conditional approval
Step 11 - Public hearing in MSAD towns
Step 14 - Final withdrawal agreement
Step 17 - Sebago public hearing
Step 18 – Sebago votes to accept or deny Nov 7 Referendum

18. What is in the Withdrawal Agreement?
A fair agreement that benefits Sebago
Sebago would become an individual School unit with its own school committee and Superintendent (Part time)
The town would have complete control over SES, including grade configuration, resources, programming and staffing

19. What is in the Withdrawal Agreement?
For students not educated at SES, MSAD61 will become the school of guaranteed acceptance for the next 10 years
Sebago can allow up to 20% of its grade 7-12 students to have school choice for the first five years and 25% for the next five years

20. What is in the Withdrawal Agreement?
Sebago students attending Lake Region Middle School will be charged the MDOE elementary tuition rate.
Sebago students attending Lake Region High School will be charged the state secondary tuition rate without a tuition limitation

21. What is in the Withdrawal Agreement?
SES will operate a special education program
Those students who cannot be served at SES will be transported to MSAD61 or other provider
MSAD61 will charge actual costs for these services

22. What is in the Withdrawal Agreement?
Sebago may be assessed a 10% debt service factor if MSAD61 voters approve incurring debt for a construction project (LRMS +LRHS) for any of the schools Sebago students attend
Sebago will not seek state construction funds for a period of five years. This does not prohibit construction with local funds

23. What is in the Withdrawal Agreement?
Sebago will pay 14.33% of existing MSAD61 debt service obligations.
Sebago will receive 14.33% of the balance of undesignated funds and capital reserve funds that are not appropriated for expenditure by MSAD61 voters

24. What is in the Withdrawal Agreement?
Sebago will assume all collective bargaining agreements for the LRTA, LRESPA and the LR Non –Teaching Association until expiration
Sebago will honor all continuing contract rights of all existing staff

25. What is in the Withdrawal Agreement?
Sebago will receive all real and personal property on the premises, including 3 school buses that service Sebago students
Sebago will pay 14.33% of the Superintendent’s salary and benefits for one year after the withdrawal date (Approx. $35,000)

26. What is in the Withdrawal Agreement?
The town would have complete control over SES, including grade configuration, resources, programming and staffing
It is fair agreement that benefits Sebago

27. If Sebago Withdraws – What Then?
We will have the guarantee that the school will not be closed
Sebago can run our own elementary school to have a top quality education for our children
The heart of our town is preserved and property values are protected

28. If Sebago Withdraws – What Then?
Sebago will create a new public School Administrative Unit
This will be a public school system

29. If Sebago Withdraws – What Then?
We can choose to create a Pre-Kindergarten program for our children
We can choose to bring Grade 6 back from the Middle School
We can, over time, choose to make needed improvements and maintenance to our school that the District has not done or has deferred

30. If Sebago Withdraws – What Then?
Middle and High School students may attend Lakes Region MS/HS and/or to other schools of parents’ choice
Sebago would elect its own School Board
Sebago will have its own bus system and our students would only have to travel a minimum amount of miles on the bus

31. What Will The Sebago SAU Cost?
We currently pay MSAD61 between $3.1 and $3.2 million/year as Sebago’s share
The Sebago SAU will cost about the same initially
As Sebago’s initial cost obligations and debt service obligations to MSAD61 are paid off, costs should decline

32. What will SAU costs cover?
Salaries and benefits for teachers and support staff
Educational costs for SES students
Voucher costs for MS/HS students
Building maintenance and upkeep
Sebago tax $ will go to support Sebago kids

33. What if Sebago votes “No”?
We will remain part of MSAD61
Sebago cannot reapply for withdrawal for two years
MSAD61 can close Sebago Elementary at any time by a 2/3 Board vote

34. What if Sebago votes “No”?
Crooked River Elementary School upgrades are being proposed again
If it passes, closure of Sebago Elementary is much more likely in the near future
Sebago’s school payments will increase by $78,000 annually to pay for it.
The MSAD61 operating budget is also likely to increase in future years, and Sebago will have to pay more as its share

35. Please Vote “Yes” November 7, 2017 Referendum
“Do you favor the withdrawal of the Town of Sebago from School Administrative District No. 61 subject to the terms and conditions of the withdrawal agreement dated July 20, 2017?”
November 7, 2017
Referendum