What: Open house for Dirigo Elementary School

When: 6:30 p.m. Aug. 19

Where: off Route 108 in West Peru

New school opening this month

PERU – It’s not every school that has a vernal pool, glacial boulders, and trails once used by Abenaki Indians at its doorstep, perfect for outdoor classes.

SAD 21’s new $14 million two-story elementary school does.

On Aug. 27, about 370 kindergartners through fifth-graders will be bused up a scenic driveway then enter Dirigo Elementary School.

“It’s a wonderful experience to start something new. There’s such a difference,” said Sarah Hakala, a first grade teacher who taught at the former Dixfield Elementary School for five years.

She and other teachers were preparing their new classrooms this week for the arrival of youngsters.

The project began nearly four years ago when Peru, which at that time was its own school system, and SAD 21, each asked the state to fund new elementary schools, Superintendent Tom Ward said. SAD 21 sought a replacement for the now closed Canton Elementary School.

“The state was pushing consolidation so both requests were low on the list for new schools,” he said.

A year later, Peru merged with SAD 21 and work began to gain funding to build a new elementary school to serve children from Canton, Dixfield, Peru and Carthage. The new school request shot to the top of the state’s list.

“Without the merger, this never would have happened,” Ward said.

SAD 21 needed more space at Dirigo Middle School and Dirigo High School, so, fifth-graders will now attend the new school. Several other classes, the alternative education program, and the central office are housed at the former Dixfield Elementary School, referred to by some as Dirigo High School East.

The new school is perched atop a hill on 33 acres with 180-degree views of mountains and fields. Shades of basil green, beige, orange and yellow fill its walls, while vinyl floor coverings are spiced up with shades of red and other primary colors.

The school, at 60,000 square feet, is more than twice the size of the previous elementary school. There’s room for regular and special classrooms, offices, common areas, a cafeteria, gym, stage, and for a planned prekindergarten program.

Outside, boulders left behind during the glacial era line the driveways, two athletic fields, and playground. Ward said the fields will likely be used by middle and high school students as well as elementary pupils.

There’s still outside site work to finish, but the interior is complete. General contractors are Langford and Low of Portland. K and K Excavation of Auburn oversaw the site work. The community’s share of the $14 million project is just over $200,000.

“It’s worked out just great for us,” Ward said. He once oversaw construction of a new high school in southern Maine. “That was a good experience for this project,” he said.

He credits elementary Principal Kathy Richard with much of the success of the school.

“She has put so much time into this project,” he said.

Residents of the four district towns will have a chance to see the new school at an open house set for 6 p.m. Aug. 19. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held in September.