DIXFIELD – Follow-up meetings Tuesday between SAD 21 and Peru school superintendents has established a schedule for future meetings on a proposed merger.
Peru would hold an informational public meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 13. That would be followed by a public hearing in Peru on Monday, Jan. 26.
Maine Education Commissioner Susan A. Gendron is expected to attend the hearing to answer questions.
Although the referendum date for Peru has yet to be identified, Superintendent John Turner said it would occur on either Feb. 23 or 24.
If Peru voters approve the merger contract, which was OK’d as written Monday night by SAD 21 and Peru school boards, SAD 21 would convene public meetings in its towns of Canton, Carthage and Dixfield. Referendum voting would follow.
Factoring into the rush to establish a time line is a June 1 deadline for new school construction projects.
SAD 21 and Peru school officials have been notified by Gendron that the state has already set aside $10 million for construction of a state-of-the-art school to replace the aging Canton and Peru elementary schools pending voter approval of the merger.
Canton elementary includes kindergarten through fourth grades while Peru is a kindergarten through eighth-grade school.
“I don’t think we can get a better offer than this,” said Turner.
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