The Newberg School Board voted unanimously to withdraw from the Willamette Education Service District at its meeting Tuesday.

It's the third school district in the past two days to opt out of WESD under legislation passed this year. Senate Bill 250 allows members of four Oregon education service districts to withdraw starting next school year. McMinnville School District voted to withdraw Monday; Salem-Keizer and Newberg School Boards voted to withdraw Tuesday. Withdrawal is effective July 1, 2012.

“Newberg Public Schools can manage programs and resources more effectively,” said Superintendent Paula Radich.

Board members expressed frustration that the WESD will still receive 10 percent of the district’s local and state money allocated to the district, and that districts that withdraw will be charged more for the same services they continue to purchase. “It’s wrong,” said Board Chairwoman Melinda Van Bossuyt. “The legislature needs to know this.”

The district expects to continue purchasing some services through the WESD including the data warehouse, student information software and services for school safety threat assessment and a therapeutic intervention coach. The district may contract with other ESDs in the state.