OXFORD – Playgrounds, gymnasiums and roofs at various schools in SAD 17 are being readied for students’ return at the end of August.

The projects are being funded in a variety of ways.

The largest summer project is replacing the gym floor in the Oxford Hills Middle School in Paris.

Superintendent Mark Eastman told the school board Monday night that the construction company is adding beams and poles to bolster the floor and also adding new plywood flooring.

Work is also being done on the floor to reduce the noise that had been disturbing classrooms below.

Assistant Superintendent Mark LaRoach said the work was done by using a federal grant for $295,000.

The roof replacement and structural upgrade of the Agnes Gray School in West Paris is the other major project occurring this summer.

LaRoach said this project is being paid for by state revolving renovation funds.

He said SAD 17 applied for this funding on nine projects, some of which were already completed, prior to 2002.

“To date we have received certificates for funding for six projects for a total of $886,645,” LaRoach said.

He said the funds, available through the Maine Municipal Bond Bank, have zero percent interest rate and a significant portion of the loan is forgiven.

LaRoach said the amount forgiven on a loan depended on the rate of debt service subsidy given to the school system by the state. He said the SAD 17 rate varies from 43 percent to 49 percent of the loan.

“It’s a nice mechanism to alleviate some of the budget pressures we would have had,” LaRoach said.

The board also learned that the playground at the Hebron Station School is now installed. Its installation was covered by the original construction costs, but was unable to be completed for the school’s opening last year.

The Oxford Elementary School also received an upgrade in playground equipment thanks to contributions by the Desani and Aquafina bottling corporations and local donations.

The final construction work consisted of crews replacing the 20-year-old carpet at the Guy E. Rowe School in Norway with tile.