Alna’s Ralph Hilton on Jan. 3 filed his petition that proposes cutting private schools as an option in new residents’ publicly funded school choice. Selectmen plan to put the question on the March 23 ballot and set a public hearing. 

The petition has 74 signatures, 32 more than it needed, Hilton said. It reads in part: “Shall  the Town of Alna’s school choice policy be amended so that after June 30, 2018, all Alna K-8 resident students will have the right to attend, at public expense, any public school of the (parent’s) choice at which the student is accepted, except that any child who is living in Alna as of June 30, 2018 and continues to live in Alna shall ... continue to have the right, at public expense, to attend any public or approved private school of the parent’s choice at which the student is accepted ...”

The language goes on to keep public and private school choice at the high school level. Hilton has said state law requires it because Sheepscot Valley Regional School Unit 12 has no high school.

The board set no date for the hearing. Selectmen favored holding it when town meeting is near. People pay more attention then, Third Selectman Doug Baston said. Selectmen plan to invite Superintendent of Schools Howie Tuttle to the hearing to help field questions. Hilton, a past district board member, said if the proposal passes, it would also need district-wide approval because it changes part of the district’s reorganization plan.

The board continued mulling taking another issue to voters, the town office’s renovation or replacement. Selectmen said they could develop proposals for both options and ask voters to authorize spending up to a capped sum. But first they want to arrange a public meeting with modular building firms. That meeting will gauge public sentiment and help determine if the project could be finished this summer, selectmen said.

“If people want to put complexity on it, like putting it out to bid or hiring local contractors, we’ll never make it,” Baston said.

Also Jan. 3, selectmen named resident and Alna firefighter Tom McKenzie code enforcement officer and plumbing inspector and said they would offer another candidate, fellow resident Michelle Peele, the job of deputy CEO and possibly deputy plumbing inspector.

In response to a board question and in an interview afterward, McKenzie confirmed he is also interested in the Emergency Management Agency director job Roger Whitney is leaving. Outside the meeting, McKenzie said he is a potential nominee.

The board and Town Clerk Liz Brown made plans to meet resident Judy Fossel’s Dec. 29 Freedom of Access Act request for information and records on school choice, including the petition. A separate letter Fossel also dated Dec. 29 does not cite FOAA. That letter seeks other materials, including all of Alna’s regulations. Fossel has raised issues with the board’s student residency policy since selectmen in 2016 took issue with her online rental ad.

The board meets next at 6 p.m. Jan. 17 at the town office.