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Town of Buckfield - RSU Withdrawal Committee
The purpose of the withdrawal committee in Maine is to research, negotiate, and develop a withdrawal agreement for a town that wants to leave a regional school unit (RSU). This includes creating a plan to provide education for the town's students, handling the financial and logistical aspects of the split, and addressing the equitable division of assets and liabilities. The committee's work is a critical step in the complex, 22-step process that ultimately leads to a town-wide vote on whether to formally withdraw.​
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Meetings will rotate between Buckfield, Hartford, and Sumner with the hosting municipality sharing the video of their meeting on their YouTube channels.
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Members:
Michelle Casey, Chairman, Circulator of Petition​
Neal Austin, Resident
Erin Hinkley, RSU 10 School Board Director (Buckfield)
Robert Hand, Buckfield Selectman
​Withdrawal Committee Documents
Education Exploration Ad Hoc Committee Work - Publicly Viewable Documents
Procedures for Withdrawal from a Regional School Unit
Withdrawal Timeline:
Step 1: A petition requesting withdrawal from RSU 10 by at least 10% of the number of votes in the prior gubernatorial election was submitted on August 28, 2025. It contained 119 valid signatures - 98 were required.
Step 2: The Buckfield Select Board called a special election for November 4, 2025.
Step 3: A posted and advertised Public Hearing was held on October 21, 2025 (at least 10 days prior).
Step 4: The petition to withdraw (article) was approved by voters on November 4, 2025. 463 - Yes, 283 - No
Step 5: The Town Clerk sent written notification to the Secretary of RSU 10 (Deborah Alden) and the Commissioner of Education (Pender Makin) by registered mail on November 5, 2025. This notification included the petition to withdraw (article) and an explanation by the municipal officers stating to the best of their knowledge the reasons why the municipality seeks to withdraw from the RSU.
Step 6: The Commissioner of Education directed the Municipal Officers on November 17, 2025 to establish a Withdrawal Committee and select members to serve on said committee. The Commissioner also notified both the RSU 10 Directors for Buckfield to select amongst themselves who would serve. On December 2, 2025 the Buckfield Select Board established the Withdrawal Committee and appointed Robert Hand, Erin Hinkley, Michelle Casey, and Neal Austin to serve.
Step 7: The Chairman of the RSU 10 School Board, Chad Culleton, called a meeting with the Withdrawal Committee that was held on December 3, 2025 at 6:00 PM at the Hartford Town Hall. The committee elected Michelle Casey as it's Chairman.
Step 8: Current Step
December 3, 2025 - The Withdrawal Committees from Buckfield, Hartford, and Sumner held a joint meeting in Hartford to begin working through the withdrawal agreement process. Current tasks - seeking legal counsel and establishing a budget. A video recording of this meeting can be viewed below.
December 18, 2025 - The Withdrawal Committees from Buckfield, Hartford, and Sumner held a joint meeting in Sumner. A video recording of this meeting can be viewed below.
January 8, 2026 - The Withdrawal Committees from Buckfield, Hartford, and Sumner held a joint meeting in Buckfield. A video recording of this meeting can be viewed below.
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