It's not every political season that you see an issue galvanize a town. In this day and age of attack ads, it's refreshing to see. Here in St George, we have an enormous opportunity facing us. I'm speaking of our town's withdrawal from RSU13.

The consistently positive approach that has been taken is paying off, and people's eyes are wide open. 
 When I was elected to the MSAD 50 board in 2007, I stepped into the mess of school consolidation. A law was pushed on, and we were forced to join with MSAD 5, even though we voted against, I continued my work representing my town and RSU 13 students, on the new board. Frankly, at times, I thought MSAD 50 was bad, with Thomaston owning so much power.

At newly formed RSU 13, I really learned how bad things could be with this. I had about 7 percent of total voting authority, and our town was paying out the second highest amount to RSU13 at roughly 4.2 million. Whatever Rockland/Thomaston says/said, is what went/goes. That was to go along with the administration, and an approach that openly alienated the public, with no regard for input, or dissent. Before we could blink, plans were in place to change Georges Valley High School over to an eighth-and ninth-grade school. There was no reception whatsoever on input from teachers, leaders and any citizen opposed to this ill-conceived plan. Initially, our eighth-grade was to be left out. It was mentioned that they would be included, in a fly-by-night comment at a local meeting, made by Superintendant Dr. Lucarelli. That's how business was done, and it hasn't improved. RSU 13 was not empathetic, or remotely interested in our concerns. I sat on a town school committee where we batted around numerous ideas constantly, about how to improve where we stood. (My feelings and others were withdrawal)

I understood the reservations then. Many have worked hard, for many years. Even prior to this, the groundwork was laid in the mid-90s, when Thomaston talked of taking our sixth- to eighth-grade up there. We're pretty independent down here and this vote brings many ends of the spectrum together positively.

So, I view this vote as a chance to take back control of the education of our children and taxes — we're banking on our youth. We can do better than RSU 13, by a long stretch. When a tough decision is being made, I'd rather be talking about it down-street, with a member of our new board, rather than reaching to Rockland or others by email. It's up to us, now, on a local level to take charge. I'd ask you to take the time to read over some of the information that can be found online at the town's website or on Facebook.

In short, I sincerely believe withdrawal will be cheaper, give us control and a voice, keep our school, help us strengthen ourselves as a community, and finally, give our future generations a better chance. Please vote yes to withdraw.

Josiah R. Wilson lives in Port Clyde and is a former MSAD 50/RSU 13 board member