DIXFIELD – Dirigo High School in Dixfield has a track team, but no track on which to practice and compete.
At a special SAD 21 School Board meeting Monday night, directors discussed putting a special article on an upcoming referendum warrant to build a track around the soccer field at local expense.
But when they learned the hefty price compounded by interest on a 20-year loan – more than $1 million – directors quickly backed off, said Superintendent Thomas Ward Tuesday morning.
“It was way too much for the district’s four towns,” Ward said.
The total cost of the track was estimated to be $700,000. But with interest at 5.23 percent, it would overburden Canton, Carthage, Dixfield and Peru.
Community interest brought the subject before the board.
Directors, however, have not given up on somehow getting a track constructed. They wanted to build it at the site of the proposed new elementary school off Route 108 in Peru.
But topography there meant having to add a lot of fill to create a level field.
“If we could find a level field, that would save half the cost. You have to have tremendous support underneath the track so you don’t have frost heaves,” Ward said.
And, although the state is paying most of the money to build the district a new 300-pupil elementary school, it won’t pay for athletic fields.
Directors “felt they had to discuss it, but the costs are astronomical. The only real way it could be done is if we were to build a new high school, then the state would fund it. But, we’re building an elementary school,” Ward said.
Directors still voted to add an article to the referendum warrant. The revised article is to purchase an additional athletic field for a price not to exceed $150,000.
An informational meeting is to be held on the matter at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 7, at the Dixfield high school’s student community center. Directors also are to ask district residents present to vote in a straw poll on the concept design for the new elementary school.
Next, a public hearing on both matters is to be held at 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 5, at the same place, followed on Dec. 13 by a districtwide referendum.
In the meantime, though, directors intend to start pursuing the track dream by scheduling fund-raisers.
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