DIXFIELD – Contractors are expected to begin pouring concrete for SAD 21’s new elementary school on Route 108 in Peru this week.

Superintendent Tom Ward said Friday that the plans for the first steps in the $13.6 million school project almost coincided with the Maine Bond Bank’s acceptance of funding. The SAD 21 board approved that acceptance at its budget workshop last week.

The two-story school, complete with a gymnasium and athletic fields, will replace Dixfield and Peru elementary schools. Canton Elementary School was closed nearly two years ago.

It will serve pupils from prekindergarten through grade five, and is being built at no cost to the district. It is scheduled to be completed in August 2008.

In other matters, Ward said the district is still waiting for the state to determine the amount of state aid to education before it can finalize its 2007-2008 operating budget.

He said he hopes the district can stay within a 1 percent increase from this year’s $9.8 million operating budget for the 1,040 students. Among the issues to be considered is recently passed state law calling for new teachers to receive a $30,000 salary, and settlement of the teachers’ contract. A new three-year contract should be completed by late in the week, he said.

He said the board will consider new personnel requests at its April 9 meeting, and may present a preliminary 2007-2008 budget. Public hearings on the budget will be set later. The districtwide budget vote has tentatively been set for 6:30 p.m. May 29 at the high school, contingent upon learning the the amount of state aid.