BINGHAM — The school district is, once again, officially examining whether to close Quimby Middle School.

The school board recently authorized Superintendent Virginia Rebar to research and file a report with the Maine Department of Education explaining why the building is unnecessary or unprofitable.

It’s the first in a series of steps to close the school, which is one of three in the district serving Bingham and Moscow.

School Administrative District 13 faced this issue in 2009. Since then, student enrollment and revenue have continued to decrease.

“I don’t think it’s a question of desire as much as it’s an issue of facing the necessities at this point,” Rebar said.

There are 234 students enrolled in grades pre-kindergarten through 12. That’s 20 less than last school year, Rebar said.

The economy isn’t improving either.

“We just received a preliminary report from the state saying we would be receiving less subsidy this year than last,” she said.

The board’s vote on Tuesday was split, 6-2, to authorize Rebar to file what’s called a lack of need report with the state. The two opposed members wanted an analysis to be completed of both Quimby and Moscow Elementary School, Rebar said.

“After quite a bit of discussion the majority thought it was more appropriate to just look at one school at a time,” Rebar said.

An examination of closing the Moscow school would only be considered in the event enrollment was so low that all students in the district could fit into the high school, Rebar said.

“That’s nothing that the board is considering in the immediate future at all,” she said.

Over the next few months, Rebar will gather data about how closing Quimby, which serves grades five through eight, would affect students and district operations.

The analysis will include the financial impact of the closure, educational changes, transportation changes, enrollment projections, effective date of closure and remaining financial commitments, according to information provided by the education department.

The state will review Rebar’s report and ultimately provide a cost savings estimate. Board members will then vote whether to close the school, located on U.S. Route 201.

If they approve the measure by a two-thirds majority, Bingham and Moscow residents will have final say at the polls.

The board has tackled the school closure issue before. In May 2009 board members voted in favor of closing Quimby, but later reversed their decision. In December 2009, they voted against closing the school.

Erin Rhoda — 612-2368

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