LIVERMORE FALLS — Regional School Unit 36 directors voted unanimously Thursday to hold a referendum in May for residents of Livermore and Livermore Falls to consider closing Livermore Falls Middle School.

The vote will take place Tuesday, May 10, in both towns. RSU 36 directors voted Feb. 7 to close the Livermore Falls school due to lack of need. Voters have the final say.

A public hearing on the closing is scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday, April 28, in the boardroom at the Cedar Street Learning Center in Livermore Falls. The building also contains the district’s Central Office.

Closing the school is estimated to save more than $578,000, Superintendent Sue Pratt told the school board in March.

If voters in the two towns reject closing the school, taxpayers in Livermore and Livermore Falls will be responsible for paying that amount and still pay a share of Jay schools. The two school systems will consolidate July 1.

If voters approve closing the school, students from Livermore and Livermore Falls will attend Jay Middle School the next school year.

In other business Thursday, directors voted unanimously to waive a policy for one year pertaining to seventh- and eighth-grade student promotion.

Directors voted 7-3 last month to table a waiver on the middle school policy that requires students to earn credits as part of the process to be promoted to the next grade. Directors wanted to read the policy and a related one before making a decision.

According to a policy adopted in 2008, the subjects of health, English and reading each require a student to pass them and earn a credit to advance. Other subjects are also involved.

The school no longer offers health courses that are graded, because of budget cuts. English and reading have been combined into language arts and only one credit is earned.

Another policy on the books, Students Progress Through the Grades, covers promotion and includes multiple factors for students to move on to the next grade.

The policy waived Thursday states the exact number of credits to be earned for promotion.

A new school board will be in charge of RSU 73, the consolidated school system, and policies will be reviewed to determine the requirements for grade promotion at the middle school.

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