An Alna man is gathering signatures on a petition for a town vote to pay residents’ kindergarten through grade eight enrollment to public schools only. The change from taxpayer-funded private school choice for those grades would also take votes of the Sheepscot Valley Regional School Unit 12 board and the district’s voters, Ralph Hilton said.

Hilton said he already had more than enough signatures for a town referendum in March. He told selectmen Dec. 20, he will wait until January to file the petition so he can keep going door to door with it to make sure everyone understands what’s involved. So far, nearly everyone he’d met with signed it, he said.

Selectmen have anticipated a petition and have expressed support for one like Hilton’s: The former Alna representative to SVRSU 12 proposes eliminating private schools from the school choice Alna offers at those grades; and applying the new rule only to children who become residents after June 30, 2018. All others would still get publicly funded private and public school choice; and the proposed change doesn’t prevent private school enrollment, but the families, not fellow taxpayers, would pay for it, Hilton and selectmen said.

They said private schools would remain part of school choice for high school. State law requires it because the district doesn’t have a high school, Hilton said.

The select board again fielded residents’ questions and comments. Erik  Marshall said the change could send Mainers the message Alna doesn’t welcome new families. Alna is very welcoming, Hilton responded. He said school buses come to Alna for students of public schools in Whitefield, Wiscasset and Edgecomb and the public Great Salt Bay School.

Selectmen said funding of private school choice attracts families, and the student count that results will drive up taxes, which, they added, are already too high for some residents. Third Selectman Doug Baston handles general assistance. He arranged fuel that week for a family he learned had no heat. People are struggling, he said.

Marshall told the board later, “"I don't have concerns now. I understand where you guys are coming from.”

Baston and Hilton predicted if the town passes the proposal, the district board will support calling the district-wide vote on Alna’s change.

Also Dec. 20, Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington Railway Museum board member James Patten and Planning Board member Beth Whitney told selectmen,  talks on the Cross Road nonprofit’s next five-year plan have raised the issue of whether or not to apply road standards. The two said the board was using the town’s subdivision rules, the closest fit for the plan; but the two said the museum is working on railbed not a road and is not changing Cross Road.

Selectmen voted unanimously, the subdivision ordinance’s road rules don't apply to the museum’s plan and, if they do apply, the plan satisfies the road rules.

The board meets next at 6 p.m. Jan. 3 at the town office.