POLAND — The Regional School Unit 16 board of directors plans to respond to the Poland Board of Selectpersons’ request to review the district’s budget cost-sharing formula during its next meeting on Sept. 9, said RSU 16 board Chair Mary Martin at Monday’s meeting.

Last week, the Poland Select Board requested the review of the formula, which allocates costs according to an agreement that is based 10% on each town’s student population and 90% on each town’s property valuation. The three-town district includes Poland, Mechanic Falls and Minot.

Poland pays 67% of the total local funding for the school budget required by the state.

Martin said members of the finance and personnel subcommittees plan to study the issue, along with obtaining legal advice from the school district’s attorney.

She said other districts’ cost-sharing formulas will be looked at as well.

Martin added the Maine Department of Education will be made aware of the review.

In a related discussion, Poland Selectperson Lisa Albee, who is the liaison between the Select Board and the directors, asked why part-time school bus drivers are getting benefits and what are the reasons for $1.2 million being spent on student tuition fees outside of the district.

Martin said the administration plans to provide answers to the queries in the future.

In other business, Superintendent Amy Hediger presented a schedule of votes to be taken for the school district’s third attempt at passing a budget for the next school year.

Board directors will meet Aug. 28 to vote on a new budget proposal prepared by the school district’s Budget Committee.

The district budget meeting will then be held Sept. 5 at Poland Regional High School, at which residents will be able to vote on individual spending articles of the proposed budget in a town meeting format.

Finally, a single-question validation referendum will take place Sept. 17 at polling places in the three towns asking voters to approve or reject the proposed budget for the 2024-25 school year.

At the meeting’s outset Monday night, Martin was reelected as chair and Patrick Irish was chosen as vice chair.