Residents of Wicassset will decide Tuesday if they want to leave Regional School Unit 12.

Freeport residents will make a similar decision on Dec. 17 regarding their affiliation with RSU 5. And some people in West Bath have indicated they would like out of RSU 1.

In a process that began following state-mandated school consolidation in 2008, nine towns have succeeded in withdrawing from their school units. Of those, six came from reformulated School Administrative Districts that existed prior to the reorganization.

Mainers, who have an independent streak about them, just plain like local control, officials say — especially in rural areas.

“Maine is a local control state, as you know, and it is important for local communities to make the decisions that they feel are in the best interest of their students and communities,” said Samantha Warren, communications director for the state Department of Education.

While keeping decisions local is a factor in all three local withdrawal issues, each has a unique personality.

— RSU 1. West Bath’s misgivings toward RSU 1 didn’t just begin this month, when 127 signatures calling for the town’s withdrawal were certified in the Town Office.

West Bath filed suit in October 2012 against the school unit, claiming it overpaid $1.9 million in the first four years of RSU 1’s existence. The lawsuit claims West Bath should have been assessed a total of $8.2 million over the course of four years but instead paid $10.1 million.

— RSU 5. A little more than a year after Durham residents decided they didn’t want to leave RSU 5 after all, Freeport residents are poised to decide the same question next month.

A petition with 415 signatures seeking Freeport’s withdrawal from RSU 5 has prompted a Dec. 17 vote on the matter, with a public hearing to be held at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 3.

People in Freeport have been displeased since their RSU 5 brethren in Durham and Pownal outmuscled them last June, voting down a $16.9 renovation bond for tired old Freeport High School. Calls for withdrawal sprang up immediately after the vote.

On Tuesday night, residents of the three towns will consider a $14.6 million Freeport High School project and a companion $1.7 million plan to upgrade athletic fields, one with synthetic turf. It’s conceivable voters could pass the Freeport bond a few weeks before Freeport votes itself out of RSU 5. In that case, Durham and Pownal would not be obliged to pay for those renovations.

Members of a group called Moving Freeport Foward insist that the battle over high school renovations isn’t the only thing motivating their drive. They just want Freeport to stand on its own, and don’t like the fact that school consolidation was “forced on” the town.

— RSU 12. Given the goahead in June 2012, the Wiscasset RSU Withdrawal Committee endured a protracted, laborious negotiation with the school district. On Tuesday, Wiscasset voters will make the final decision on whether to leave the sprawling eight-town district based in Somerville.

The town’s school populations are dwindling. Of the 588 students attending the three Wiscasset schools, 451 are from Wiscasset and 137 from the other towns. Wiscasset High School, built for 450 students, now has only 160 — just 27 from Wiscasset. All towns except for Wiscasset have school choice.

If Wiscasset residents choose to leave RSU 12, they will decide on the same ballot which of two methods should be used to fund the estimated $2 million cost of withdrawal. That figure, too, is a subject of much debate.

Some who favor leaving RSU 12 favor joining with a local Alternative Organizational Structure (AOS), which is much more looselyorganized than an RSU.

lgrard@timesrecord.com

WITHDRAWALS

Since consolidation began in 2008, these towns have successfully voted to withdraw from their school districts:

Starks from RSU/SAD 59 in Jan. 2012, joined RSU 9 effective July 1, 2012.

Portage Lake from RSU/SAD 32 in June 2012, became an individual SAU effective July 1, 2012.

Frankfort from RSU 20 in Nov. 2012 and joined RSU 22 effective July 1.

Glenburn from RSU 26 in Nov. 2012 and became an individual SAU effective July 1.

Veazie from RSU 26 in Nov. 2012 and became an individual SAU effective July 1.

Cherryfield from RSU/SAD 37 in May 2013 and became an individual SAU effective July 1.

Eustis from RSU/SAD 58 in May 2013 and became an individual SAU effective July 1.

Athens from RSU/SAD 59 in May 2013 and became an individual SAU effective July 1.

Brighton Plantation from RSU/SAD 59 in May 2013 and became an individual SAU effective July 1.

The following towns had failed votes to withdraw:

Arundel in Nov. 2012 from RSU 21

Monmouth in June from RSU 2

Belfast, Belmont, Morrill, Northport, Searsmont and Swanville in June from RSU 20

SOURCE: State Department of Education