DIXFIELD – At tonight’s SAD 21 informational meeting on the design of a proposed new elementary school, directors expect to learn if they’ve got community backing.
A straw poll is to be conducted on the prekindergarten to fifth-grade facility at the meeting, which begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Student Community Center at Dirigo High School in Dixfield.
“This is a very important vote for the state Board of Education to know whether or not the communities of SAD 21 support the design of the new school,” Superintendent Thomas Ward said Wednesday.
Pending a positive vote, Ward and Lyndon Keck of Portland Design Team Architects of Portland are to present the plans and poll results to the state board on Wednesday, Nov. 9, in Augusta.
“The state doesn’t have to follow the poll. They just want an idea of what the communities support,” Ward said Friday afternoon.
He isn’t anticipating problems with the state at this point.
A green light from the state paves the way for a public hearing to be held at 6 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 5, at the high school, followed by a districtwide referendum on Tuesday, Dec. 13.
If the referendum vote on the new school design is positive, SAD 21 officials are to apply for bonding for the project and buy the land, located off Route 108 in Peru.
Also on the referendum warrant is to be an article asking Canton, Carthage, Dixfield and Peru voters to approve paying $150,000 locally over 20 years for a multipurpose athletic field.
“It will be at the same rate as the bond, so it will be a deal,” Ward said.
The district only owns one athletic field, which is behind Dirigo Middle School in Dixfield, a small practice field beside the superintendent’s office, a small field at Dixfield Elementary School, and another at Peru Elementary School.
However, the Peru field reverts back to the town of Peru once the new school is built.
“The proposed new field is to be large enough for an official soccer field, but we would use it for all activities,” Ward said.
After the bonding process, Portland Design Team Architects would begin work to provide the fine details, like flooring, furniture, paint, etc.
“It will take a while and involve staff, students and the communities, and we’ll have more informational meetings,” Ward said.
Once these plans are completed, Ward expects the project to go out to bid next summer.
Comments are no longer available on this story