Residents of the towns of Mechanic Falls, Minot and Poland will not only be voting for a president and local representatives when they go to the polls on Nov. 4. The school consolidation measure, mandated by Legislature, will also be on the ballot.

Representatives from all three towns were appointed to a regional planning committee and met over the course of the summer. Initially, the idea of combining all three towns into one Regional School Unit seemed insurmountable. The focus was on creating a school unit that not only maintained the high quality programs we have come to expect, but would also share programs across all three towns with an eye on cost savings. Representatives from all three towns listened to each other’s concerns and crafted a new Regional School Unit by unanimous vote.

Now it’s up to the voters. I am very proud of the work that was done by all three towns and hope voters will support the consolidation by voting “yes” on Nov. 4.

Jacques Wiseman, Mechanic Falls