AES committees plan informational meeting Feb. 2

The committees studying the future of education in Andover will present their findings at a public meeting Feb. 2.

The groups have been researching options since last spring, when the town voted to take on $214,000 more in financial responsibility for the Andover Elementary School for the 2011-2012 school year.

The move followed a vote by the SAD 44 School Board to save that amount of money by closing the building.

After the town vote, Andover moved to the next step: figuring out how to keep the school running after this year.

Committees were formed to study options that included remaining in SAD 44 but trying to negotiate a better financial deal with the district; joining another school district (RSU 10 in Rumford); operating as an independent school, or trying to seek funding as a charter school.

Other committees have also been working to increase the number of after-school activities this year and draw in more volunteer help from the community. Fundraising projects were also organized to help relieve the tax burden for this year's costs.

Selectman Susan Merrow said recently that since last spring a few families who had moved away had returned to town, and a few new families moved to Andover, because the school has remained open and has an active support organization.

If SAD 44 proposes to keep the school closed for next year, the same closure-vote steps must be taken by all parties.

The School Board could start preliminary discussions about that process as part of its regular budget-building, which is expected to begin soon, according to Supt. Dave Murphy.

The Feb. 2 meeting in Andover is at 7 p.m., at the Town Hall.