Kingfield voters will decide Nov. 3 whether to leave MSAD 58 and form a town-run school unit. The proposal would keep Kingfield Elementary open through eighth grade and send high-school students to Mt. Abram under a 10-year tuition deal; it needs two-thirds approval.
The committee’s draft budget allocates $1.8 million to operate Kingfield Elementary and pay Mt. Abram tuition—$500,000 less than the $2.3 million Kingfield paid into MSAD 58 this year. Committee members cautioned that the draft is not final and omits possible revenue, including tuition from students in unorganized territory and federal grants. The proposed unit would take ownership of the school, receive three buses and at least $300,000 (15% of MSAD 58’s undesignated funds), assume $27,000 in district debt, and pay 105% of the state-set tuition rate for high-school students.
Kingfield’s withdrawal effort began after its local share was projected to rise by $154,000; the town pays 40% of MSAD 58’s local share despite accounting for 17% of students. If Strong leaves while Kingfield stays, the town’s share would rise to 50–55%. MSAD 58 plans to present a two-campus model before the vote; committee member Kim Jordan said a possible layout would place grades 6–12 at Mt. Abram and pre-K–5 at another school. District officials warn that withdrawals could make Mt. Abram harder to keep open, while Kingfield’s committee says preserving it is a priority.
