DIXFIELD – Members of SAD 21’s Consolidated School Board have narrowed the search for land on which to build a new school to four landowners.

Superintendent Thomas Ward said the four landowners have been approached by state and district officials, and the architect, to allow their properties to be surveyed and appraised for fair market value, and to have required soil testing done.

But officials could not identify where the properties are until after appraisal work is completed due to negotiations, Ward said after the meeting.

“We can’t reveal the sites because the earliest appraisal can’t be done until Feb. 4,” he said.

Ward said two appraisals must be completed before officials with the Maine Department of Education’s School Construction Division can review the appraisals.

“The earliest time to negotiate with the property owners will be in mid-February,” he said.

Directors chose Portland Design Team Architects of Portland to plan, design and build the district’s new 300-pupil elementary school, which must be situated on the Peru/Canton side of the Androscoggin River.

The SAD 21 Consolidated School Board was formed earlier this year when the district’s towns of Canton, Carthage and Dixfield merged with Peru. It is tasked with handling everything pertaining to the new school and establishing a budget for the merged district.