(1) Section 1351 for school administrative districts;

(2) Title 30-A, sections 2528 to 2532, for community school districts, except the school board shall issue a warrant specifying that the municipalities within the district place the petitioned article on the ballot, and shall prepare and furnish the required number of ballots for carrying out the election; and

(3) Title 21-A and Title 30-A, respectively, for cities and towns.

C. The article to be used shall be substantially in the following form:

"Article: Shall the school committee of

(name of town)

(the board of directors of School Administrative District No. ) be authorized to close

?

(name of school)

Yes No

The additional cost of keeping the school open has been estimated by the school committee (board of directors) to be $ ."

SUMMARY

This bill eliminates the requirement for a referendum vote in a member municipality of a school administrative district or community school district where the school board has voted to close an elementary school. A referendum vote could still be triggered by a petition signed by 10% of the number of voters in the affected municipality who voted in the last gubernatorial election.