DURHAM – Residents are interested in looking into the formation of a Community School District with Lisbon and sharing cost and ownership of a new high school, according to a straw poll taken Thursday night.

The poll was taken at a School Committee informational workshop meeting where more than 80 people turned out. Less than 10 of them opposed the idea.

The informal poll was needed, Superintendent Shannon Welsh said, to gauge the interest of residents before school officials undertake the lengthy process of forming a district.

A second straw poll will be on the March 6 town warrant. If it is favorable, Lisbon and Durham school committees would begin working on steps for forming a district. If Durham residents are not interested in joining with Lisbon, that town will probably build a 450-student high school, which would effectively shut out Durham.

If the two towns decide to move ahead, Welsh said an application would be submitted to the state in June. She said they are looking at 2007-08 before a new high school would be ready.

Lisbon High School Principal Kenneth Healey and Assistant Principal Warren Galway said they intended to stay at the helm in Lisbon as long as they were wanted.

Lisbon School Committee Layne Curtis said forming a district would “be good for both of us. I want you to know the opportunity you have.” He also dispelled rumors that any location or design had been selected for a new high school, saying it was not true.

Welsh speculated that rumor may have gotten it’s start due to the fact that Lisbon bought land many years ago, the so-called Penley property on Route 9, for future school construction. That property, she said, was found to be unsuitable due to an excessive ledge, among other things.

The bulk of Durham high school students now attend Brunswick. They “like our $1.6 million” tuition payment, but are not interested in a 10-year contract, Durham School Committee member Amber Snell said.

Technically, she said, we now have a four-year contract. Students starting as freshmen will be able to continue through to the senior class, and maybe siblings will be accepted.