RANGELEY — RSU 78 will hold a public information hearing Tuesday on a proposed consolidation plan that would allow Rangeley Plantation to become part of the school system.

Rangeley Plantation residents voted 54-4 on Feb. 1 to accept the plan to join RSU 78, which serves the town of Rangeley and plantations of Dallas and Sandy River in Franklin County, and Magalloway Plantation in Oxford County.

The public hearing will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. March 8 at the multipurpose room of Rangeley Lakes Regional School.

A referendum vote on the plan will be held in the four RSU 78 towns on Tuesday, March 15, at town offices. Polling hours are 3 to 7 p.m. in Rangeley, and 2 to 6 p.m. in Dallas Plantation, Sandy River Plantation and Magalloway Plantation.

According to the proposed plan, Rangeley Plantation will pay its share of the first year’s costs for the formation of the RSU 78 system.

Voters in those towns that currently make up RSU 78 approved consolidation in 2009. Rangeley Plantation and Lincoln Plantation voters opposed it.

The proposed plan “will reduce some costs for all member municipalities of RSU 78 and allow Rangeley Plantation to pay the same share as other municipalities,” according to the Planning Committee.

Rangeley Plantation will also pay a one year cost that equalizes actual costs of education in RSU 78 for the current 2010-11 school year for its 16 students, the committee stated in a letter to the district’s community.

The plan also provides a clause that would allow other municipalities to join without reworking the plan in its entirety.

Under the existing consolidation plan, the RSU 78 board is made up of 10 members: five from Rangeley, two each from Dallas and Sandy River plantations, and one from Magalloway.

Under the new proposed plan, it would become a 12-member board with the addition of two members from Rangeley Plantation.

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