PARIS – SAD 17 seeks to have a completed application for a new Paris Elementary School in time for the Paris Planning Board meeting in January.

By June 2005, ground should be broken on the $12 million school, Superintendent Mark Eastman told the school board Monday.

Construction on the project that was approved by voters Sept. 14 should run from next July to November 2006. The school, to be located on High Street, should be ready for occupancy in December 2006.

Eastman said there has already been a good deal of interest in the project by contractors.

The district will pay $600,000 for the school, with the state picking up the rest of the costs.

“We’re hoping it will be a very competitive bidding process,” Eastman said.

The district has been working on the project for at least three years. The state Department of Education, which gave the project top priority for funding in 2002, still must approve the final design for the school before approving the funding.