WASHBURN, Maine — After 53 years of sending its students to SAD 45 schools in Washburn, the town of Perham wants to leave the district to escape what it sees as a high tax burden. Maine Department of Education spokesperson Kelli Deveaux confirmed that Perham was in the process of withdrawing, though the department declined to weigh in on the matter as it was a “local decision.” Deveaux said the earliest Perham could leave the district would be July 1, 2022 — in time for the 2022-23 school year.