PERU – Residents here have had to wait nearly three years for a say in the proposed merger with SAD 21.

At 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 28, in the town school’s gym, they’ll get their first of two opportunities to have their questions answered by school board officials.

“I hope we get a good turnout,” said committee Chairwoman Tammi Lyons. “If people have questions, Wednesday night is definitely the time to bring them.”

Those expecting to air political concerns, however, could be rebuffed by directors, who only plan to answer questions regarding the merger process, the pending SAD 21 contract and the state’s guarantee to build a new school with the $10 million it has set aside for the project.

A copy of the seven-page merger agreement is available to the public at the school and the town office.

The contract represents a compromise between SAD 21 and Peru school officials.

“Both systems have given up some things for the betterment of the whole,” said Peru School Superintendent John Turner.

“I believe this document and the new school district it will create is the best deal for Peru’s children, as well as for the children of Canton, Carthage and Dixfield,” he added.

Some of the contract articles include:

• Organization of a new 15-member SAD board. Four directors would represent Peru, six for Dixfield, three for Canton and two for Carthage. Peru will have 34 percent of the voting power, Dixfield 44 percent, Canton 16 percent and Carthage 6 percent.

• Pending voter approval of the merger, a new school project is to be requested. That facility would be on the south side of the Androscoggin River, preferably in Peru.

Turner said the state has set aside $10 million to build the school “to better serve the Canton and Peru children, as well as all students of the newly formed SAD, if the merger is passed.”

If the merger is rejected, neither town will receive money for a new school. In 2001, Canton placed 11th and Peru 12th on the state’s list of major school construction projects. Due to each school’s small pupil population, the state will not build a school for either town, Turner said.

Instead, the $10 million will be spent on the 13th school in the list “if we do not merge before June 1,” he said.

“We are being used as an example of what cooperation and uniting can do. This is as close to a guarantee as the state will ever give,” Turner said.

If the merger is approved by Peru and SAD 21 referendum voters, officials will begin looking for land for the school.

Officials hope to receive concept approval this fall. Bonding should be completed in early summer of 2005, construction would begin in spring 2006, and September 2007 would mark project completion.

“The state wants to use us as an example of the benefits of regionalizing. Let’s make the most of this. Ten million dollars will build one fantastic elementary complex, a school to be proud of for years to come,” Turner said.

A public hearing has been scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 11, at the same location. A referendum vote on the matter is to be held from noon to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24.

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