LIVERMORE FALLS — RSU 73 directors voted unanimously Thursday night to close the high school in Livermore Falls no later than June 30, 2013.

The board found the school — one of two campuses of Spruce Mountain High School — is unnecessary or unprofitable to maintain within the meaning of state law.

The decision means Livermore and Livermore Falls will vote on closing the school and if they choose to keep it open they’ll have to come up with $650,000 to pay for operating it.

The decision also means all three district towns, including Jay, will vote on building an addition to the Jay campus of Spruce Mountain High School. If the three towns reject the addition, the board will need to vote on reopening the Livermore Falls high school.

The board’s facilities committee had recommended the school be closed.

The board did not take up the facilities committee’s recommendation to form a committee of educators, students and community members to determine what type and size addition is needed.

The board made the decision to close the school without any discussion.

Chairwoman Denise Rodzen of Livermore Falls said after the meeting that some board members had attended different committee meetings where the issue was discussed.

It is unclear what will happen the next school year and whether both high schools will continue to operate.

In other business, directors voted to have Macdonald Page & Co. LLC of South Portland and Augusta to be the auditor of the school district for three years.

Four firms submitted bids for the job.

The board took those bids up in executive session before returning to public session and voting.

The firm will charge $20,500 to audit the fiscal year 2011-12, $21,250 to audit fiscal year 2012-13 and $21,750 in fiscal year 2013-14.

The firm’s proposal meets the needs of the school district, Superintendent Robert Wall said after the board meeting.

Directors also voted to accept the resignation of Director Ann Souther of Livermore Falls. Selectmen will be contacted to appoint a director to represent the town until the next election.

In another matter, the board accepted with gratitude the resignation of teacher Michael Simoneau in June at the end of the school. Initially the motion was to accept his resignation with regret but Vice Chairwoman Mary Redmond-Luce asked that it be changed to gratitude for the 34 years of service in the Jay system and the consolidated school district this year.

Redmond-Luce said she had Simoneau when she was in school and her son has him now. She thanked him for his years of dedication.

In other business, the board voted to hire Kathie Bilodeau of Fayette as the secretary at the high school campus in Jay. Current secretary Julia Parker will transfer to be guidance secretary at the school.

Current guidance secretary Lynn Smith has taken a new position with the district as an administrative services assistant in the central office.

dperry@sunjournal.com

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