Ogunquit News
Ogunquit to consider accepting York School Department offer for admission
By Jennifer L. Saunders and C. Ayn Douglass
YORK and OGUNQUIT - The Ogunquit Board of Selectmen was scheduled to meet last night, Tuesday, Oct. 17, to discuss sending a letter to York Superintendent of Schools Dr. Henry Scipione regarding the York School Department's recent offer to accept Ogunquit students on a tuition basis.That offer was announced earlier this month, following a lengthy discussion and site-visit process between York and Ogunquit officials seeking to determine whether the York School Department could provide educational options for Ogunquit's approximately 50 students.
Ultimately, the York School Committee voted unanimously to offer admission to the students on a tuition-only basis, but declined the offer for the Ogunquit Village School to be used as either classroom space for K-4 students in Ogunquit and portions of York or for other needs.
Although no official action was taken as of press time Tuesday, Ogunquit Town Manager Phil Clark confirmed last week that he has drafted a letter at the recommendation of the Board of Selectmen. The board was scheduled to review that letter Tuesday night and, if it is approved, will forward the communication to Scipione in the days ahead.
The draft letter expressed appreciation for the willingness of the York School Department officials to engage in the dialogue, and although officials have acknowledged they are disappointed that York has declined the offer to use the Ogunquit Village School, the consensus from Ogunquit is that the conditions presented by York are acceptable.
According to the agreement approved by the School Committee earlier this month, the York School Department would accept Ogunquit students on a straight tuition basis, with the rate to be determined through negotiations between officials from the two towns.
There would be no official or implied representation on the York School Committee for the town of Ogunquit, and Ogunquit would be required to absorb the cost of transportation for its students as well as a negotiated fee to offset school infrastructure costs. The duration of the agreement would also be negotiated.
The School Committee set a timeline of Sept. 1, 2007, for action on the proposal, though that deadline could be extended at any point by a majority vote of the School Committee.
Ogunquit, meanwhile, is still in negotiations with Wells to either revise or dissolve the agreement that created the Wells-Ogunquit Community School District. Under that agreement, Ogunquit must currently pay $84,472.79 per pupil to educate its 49 students in grades K through 12 in the town of Wells.
Ogunquit officials have indicated they believe those negotiations will be finalized - one way or the other - by this coming spring.
The York School Committee, meanwhile, is scheduled to meet tonight, Wednesday, Oct. 18, at the York Public Library, immediately following a presentation on the Taxpayer Bill of Rights by Scipione and York Town Manager Rob Yandow set for 6 p.m.
The School Committee's agenda includes a presentation on the topic of foreign language education at the elementary school level, review of enrollment data, budget discussions, an update on TABOR and more.
See next week's edition of The Independent for more on these issues and Ogunquit's decision regarding the York School Department's offer of admission for Ogunquit students.
