GRAY – SAD 15 directors Wednesday night postponed a referendum on a $10.2 million bond to renovate schools because the state hasn’t got its share of the money.
Superintendent Victoria Burns told the board that a loan of $4.1 million from the state’s school renovation fund was approved by the Department of Education and Maine’s Bureau of General Services recently. However, it was later learned there is no money in the fund.
The $100 million revolving fund was established by the Legislature years ago to help school systems renovate buildings.
“It’s troubling to find out that the people who have helped us in our applications didn’t know or weren’t aware that the funds were lacking,” school board Chairman Alan Rich said. “We have to wait until the money has been put back into the fund to pay us for what’s been approved. This is particularly frustrating. This is going to be a hurdle we have to get across.”
Burns said she was unsuccessful in attempts to reach Maine Commissioner of Education Susan Gendron on Wednesday to provide a timeline for when money would be available.
And, SAD 15 Director of Finance and Operations Terry Towle failed to reach Maine Bond Bank officials for information.
The bond referendum was scheduled for Nov. 8, but could now be delayed until January.
The money would be used to make improvements to SAD 15’s five schools: Gray-New Gloucester High School, Gray-New Gloucester Middle School and Russell School, all in Gray; and Burchard A. Dunn School and Memorial School, both in New Gloucester.
In other business, Gray-New Gloucester and Windham adult education programs each received $8,000 to help students go on to college.
The two systems will work together on the effort.
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