LAKE VIEW PLANTATION — Residents of Lake View Plantation heard presentations by Peter Harvey, superintendent for SAD 41, and Charles Pray, Maine State Senate president, on the advantages and disadvantages of the community’s remaining with SAD 41. The presentations were part of the annual Lake View Plantation meeting.

Harvey told the slightly more than one dozen voters assembled that Lake View joined SAD 41 in October 1960. He said that under organization details of Lake View’s joining, the plantation paid a 150 percent per pupil rate for each student attending SAD 41. He said this amounted to about $7,000 a student. Harvey said that if Lake View were in the district as are member towns Atkinson, Brownville, LaGrange and Milo, the cost for the plantation would be about $150,000.

Harvey said that it was obvious that the town could not go from a $7,000 payment to $150,000. He said that if the plantation were to withdraw from the district, the other towns would have an increase of $30,000 in state subsidies that could be distributed to the other member towns.

Harvey told voters that if Lake View withdrew from the district, the plantation would be assessed about $4,000 for each pupil attending SAD 41. Harvey said this was the approximate per pupil cost. Lake View now has one student attending SAD 41. Harvey said the plantation would have to provide transportation or pay the district about $1.30 a mile for transportation. He said the plantation also would have to pay an agent fee for a superintendent.

Harvey said he could not predict what would happen “10 years down the road.” He said figures would be only speculative. He said it could be $70,500 or more, “nothing is locked in stone.”

Harvey said the state subsidy was based on enrollment and valuation. He said Lake View had a high valuation, consequently small amounts were received from the state. He said that currently $150,000 in costs were being distributed among the other member towns because of Lake View’s high valuation.

Sen. Charles Pray told voters that the Legislature was protecting the plantation. “You can’t be kicked out of the district, you must agree to withdraw,” Pray told the voters. He said there was a bill in the Legislature to allow the process of withdrawal “if agreeable to Lake View.”

Harvey said it was “not the feeling of the board to railroad Lake View out of the district.” He said if the procedure were agreeable to Lake View and proceedings were started soon, the withdrawal could come as soon as July. He said the State Board of Education and the commissioner of education must approve the measure. Harvey said that if the withdrawal, assuming Lake View wanted to withdraw, was not completed by July, then it could be by the next July.

Frank Matthew, Lake View’s director to SAD 41, asked if Lake View had a choice. “Can the other towns in the district institute the procedure without Lake View?”

Pray told Matthews that he had visited all schools in the district during October. He said he had discussed the withdrawal with Harvey. “I only filed title of the bill for SAD 41 and Lake View in the event the possibility existed.” He said there was no language to the bill and no meetings had been held yet. “Only if there is agreement will the bill be actually introduced,” Pray said.

Asked if the other towns could vote Lake View out with a 4-1 vote, Harvey said that, to his knowledge, that could not be done. Pray told Harvey that “technically, yes, any citizen could initiate the legislation.” He said when the item came into committee, it would be investigated to determine how the area felt. “Other legislators look to area representatives for recommendations on items,” Pray said. “I will not initiate the action until there is agreement.”

Fred Trask, Lake View assessor, asked why Lake View’s valuation was figured in the district. He was told that the formula is based on the valuation of towns in the district.

Robert Hussey, representative to the Legislature, said that Lake View Plantation was needed at the formation of SAD 41 for borrowing reasons. He said the late Rodney Ross, then representative, formed the bill to allow a special exemption for Lake View. He said Lake View joined to enhance the borrowing power of the SAD.

After a nearly one-hour discussion, no action was taken. During the meeting, voters did not elect a director for the SAD. William Curtis, first assessor, told voters that one no could be appointed until July. By then the voters should have decided what they are going to do. Matthews is completing the unexpired term of Pamela Worcester, who resigned.