Harrison Gets State Extension on Bid to Leave MSAD 17

Harrison has won more time from the state in its effort to leave Maine School Administrative District 17, the Sun Journal reported. The Maine Department of Education extended the town's withdrawal petition in September.

The delay lets Harrison watch how the district's school construction plans progress. Deb Kane, a selectperson who chairs the town's withdrawal committee, told members that more extensions can be requested if necessary.

The town started looking at withdrawal after learning that a new district elementary school would replace those in Harrison, Norway and Waterford with a single building, most likely in Norway. In June, a majority of residents voted to form a committee for a 22-step withdrawal process. The town has reached step seven, and officials can drop the effort at any point.

Negotiating a withdrawal agreement, the next step, must wait on several district decisions, including the school's site. On Oct. 8, the MSAD 17 board of directors authorized interim Superintendent Jonathon Ross to negotiate with the owner of a second site after talks over the first choice collapsed.

Withdrawal would end all state special education funding for Harrison. MSAD 17 owns Harrison Elementary School and has no obligation to hand it to the town. A districtwide referendum on the construction project would likely come in June 2027. The withdrawal committee next meets on Nov. 5.

This story was first reported by Sun Journal.