Most of Westport Island's approximately 70 students go to Wiscasset schools. But next fall, will they still?

Or will more parents of Wiscasset's neighbor town choose other schools?

“That's a very hard one to say. It will depend on what (Wiscasset) has for programs,” said Richard DeVries, a Westport Island representative to Regional School Unit 12.

“That will be the clincher, if (parents) can send their children to a school that has better programs?”

If education winds up costing Wiscasset more when it leaves the school district later this year, DeVries said he would be concerned about an impact on programs.

He voiced the same concern in November 2013, after Wiscasset voted to withdraw. At the time, he considered encouraging parents to move their students to schools outside Wiscasset. But he held off, instead taking a wait-and-see approach.

Parents are likely doing the same, he said. He hasn't heard from any seeking advice.

In addition to programs, DeVries said an important element in parents' decision-making could be transportation costs.

Westport Island parents have school choice, but the district only covers transportation to the nearest school, which Wiscasset's schools are, DeVries said. So parents who make a switch face that new expense, he said.

Wiscasset School Committee member Sharon Nichols brought up Westport Island at the committee's February 6 meeting.

“We certainly want them,” Nichols said.