DURHAM – The Brunswick School Committee has voted to offer Durham a tuition contract for high schoolers, adding a new twist to the ongoing debate over creating a school district with Lisbon.

Voters will weigh two options when they cast their ballots on Dec. 14: joining with Lisbon to build a new high school or continuing to offer a choice, which now includes a contract offer from Brunswick.

Durham has no high school and sends its students to area schools on a tuition basis.

After town students were shut out of many area high schools due to overcrowding, townspeople indicated in a straw vote at the March town meeting that they favored exploring a joint school district with Lisbon.

The final public hearing on that proposal will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 2, at the Durham Elementary School gymnasium. Both towns will vote in a referendum on Dec. 14.

The offer

The Brunswick offer is for a five-year contract, beginning July 1, 2005. A “rollover” clause stipulates that unless either town gives notice of termination, the contract would be extended for one year, at the end of each year, through 2015.

Brunswick has offered to continue the same services that are now in place for Durham students attending school in grades nine through 12. Those services include general and special education and equitable participation in extracurricular programs.

Durham would pay the tuition rate per student as determined by the Maine Department of Education, with the provision that a minimum of 80 percent of Durham high school students attend Brunswick High. The state-established tuition is currently $6,879.56 per student.

Special education would incur additional costs, and Durham would continue to be responsible for transportation.

If fewer than 80 percent of Durham students are enrolled in any given time during the life of the five-year contract, the town would be required to pay the difference – that is, the full tuition based on 80 percent enrollment.

Currently, 84 percent – 193 of the 224 total – of local high school students attend Brunswick High School. The 31 remaining students attend Edward Little, Lisbon, Wayneflete, North Yarmouth Academy, Hebron Academy, Freeport High School, Hill School in Pennsylvania, Hyde School and Mt. Ararat.

Private school tuition that exceeds the state-established amount is paid by parents.

Forming a community school district with Lisbon offers a much different scenario for Durham. If approved by voters, the town would begin the process of forming a school district, which would give it something a contract with Brunswick wouldn’t: construction of a new jointly owned and operated high school, which all Durham students would be required to attend.

At the hearing Thursday night, residents will hear “side-by-side” comparisons each option, including costs. They also will hear about course offerings, both general and advanced, co-curricular and athletic.

Breakout>

Residents can ask questions and offer comments at a public hearing on the Durham-Lisbon Community School District referendum.

The hearing will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 2, at the Durham Elementary School gym.

The referendum will be held in both towns Dec. 14.