Boothbay Harbor resident Patty Minerich delivered a petition May 1 opposing the recently passed school referendum to the Community School District (CSD). Around 430 people signed the petition, which favors reconsidering and repealing the April 24 vote that approved the $30 million renovation of Boothbay Region Elementary School. The referendum results were certified by the CSD Board of Trustees May 2.

Minerich officially filed with the school but also delivered signed copies to the Boothbay and Boothbay Harbor town offices. A copy reviewed by the Register shows the petition was signed by residents of both towns, including members of the select, planning and school boards, business owners and others. The petition was notarized by Minerich and Sarah Giles, who were also two of the around 15 circulators of the petition. Town administrators said their offices certify the signatures. 

Alternative Organizational Structure (AOS) 98 Superintendent Robert Kahler said the petition is “part of the process,” is being reviewed by the district and there will be more information in the future.

In the meantime, trustees held a previously scheduled special meeting May 2 to certify the referendum results. Trustees declared the article passed with more yes than no votes. At the meeting, Kahler said the district plans to discuss moving the project forward, including bonding, at future meetings. He said the certification does not change the petition process or its outcome.

In a cover letter for the petition, Minerich said the will of the voters was expressed in the 2023 referendum, which had higher participation. The April referendum was approved by an aggregate vote of 859 to 807, and the vote drew just under 40% of the 4,200 registered voters in Boothbay and Boothbay Harbor, according to state data. In November, 58% of the towns’ registered voters participated in a referendum that rejected a $29 million question to renovate the elementary-middle school building, 1266 to 1162. 

“These results were ignored by our elected officials,” Minerich wrote in the cover letter. 

In a second article in the petition, signers said they support the CSD in updating and renovating BRES in a project not to exceed $10,250,300; Article Two depends on the first being validly approved, resulting in the repeal of the April 24 referendum.  

The proposed project description is written in the petition: “The Project will address deferred maintenance and infrastructure issues including roof leaks, new windows, plumbing and electrical updates documented, in part, within the 2021 Existing Building Conditions Report(s).” 

Article Two also addresses rules for accepting donations, with rules to apply them both before and after the project’s bond sale.