BUCKFIELD – Members of the SAD 39 board want to know more about how the Palesky tax cap initiative will affect their school district if it passes this November.

At Wednesday’s meeting, they approved a resolution to allow Superintendent Rick Colpitts to investigate the subject.

Colpitts speculated that the initiative is “likely to be held up in court” if it passes. Attending informational meetings offered by the Maine School Management Association will give him the information he needs “to lobby on behalf of the school district and its interests.”

Approving the resolution does not indicate support of or opposition to the Palesky initiative. School board Chairwoman Colleen Bullecks said the board’s action merely “gives Rick our permission to spend time attending meetings” and finding out how the initiative will affect SAD 39.

In other business, Colpitts reported to the board that “after a lot of back and forth between Augusta and SAD 39,” the state gave the green light to replacing a 40-year-old boiler at Hartford-Sumner Elementary School.

Honeywell was the sole bidder on the project, which will require a loan of about $100,000. Colpitts said 68 percent of the loan will be forgiven by the state. He noted that the state has been very supportive of the school’s efforts to have the boiler replaced.

Bullecks added that Honeywell is also “bending over backwards to help us and to make this project possible.”

The board will hold a special meeting in two weeks with a bond lawyer. That meeting will start a 47-day period required before a bond can go to referendum. Colpitts noted that Election Day, Nov. 2, would be a convenient time to ask residents of Buckfield, Hartford and Sumner to vote on the bond.

Colpitts acknowledged, though, that there would be a danger in holding the referendum on Election Day. Although large numbers of voters could be expected, the referendum would be decided the same day as the Palesky initiative.

Colpitts wondered if voters would turn down a request for more tax money after having been asked to cap property taxes.

The project would constitute the first phase of a two-phase project. The second phase would add new circulators to help heat the building and address the second boiler, which was installed in 1968. Hartford-Sumner Elementary is the sole elementary school in the district and serves 350 students.

Before adjourning at 9:30 p.m., the board discussed its code of ethics and goals, as it is required to do annually. Joan Abrams of Buckfield said she would like to see “an increased level of professionalism” from the board. She noted “a whole new spirit of cooperation in the district,” and said she would like to set the tone for the new administrative team “by letting them know the board supports them.”

Each member of the administrative team, comprising of the superintendent, high school and elementary school principals, special education director, and curriculum coordinator, was hired in July or August.