OXFORD – Voters on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved SAD 17’s request to bond $1.1 million for renovation projects at eight of the district’s 10 schools. The vote was 390-116.

“I’m really pleased. It allows us to move forward,” Superintendent Mark Eastman said after hearing the vote results Tuesday night.

He said he was particularly encouraged that about 80 percent of the voters favored the proposal and that what he termed the “long and complicated” ballot question did not deter voters.

The approval will allow the district to bond $1,174,085, of which $412,000 will have to be paid back with no interest due. The approval will not increase taxes, Eastman said at a recent public hearing.

School officials will begin work on three projects immediately. They are the courtyard sidewalk project at Oxford Elementary School to address Americans With Disabilities Act issues and life safety and code issues at the Oxford Hills Middle School to upgrade equipment such as fire alarms. Another project is set to begin at the middle school to update handicap access.

“We hope to get this done … before the weather gets in our way,” Eastman said.

By getting approval to bond the money, Eastman said some of the larger projects, such as ventilation projects at the West Paris and Middle School, can go out to bid now rather than waiting for a June vote when prices may have escalated.

“This is good news. I’m really excited. Everything is ready to go,” he said.

Although Eastman praised Tuesday’s voter turnout, town clerks throughout the area said bad weather and a one-question ballot resulted in what they saw as a low voter turnout.

Oxford Town Clerk Ellen Morrison braved the torrential rains Tuesday morning to set up voting signs outside of the Fire Station on Route 26 just to watch them blow down in the wind and rain. A rescue worker donned full protective gear to go outside and set them up again, she chuckled. Still by midafternoon, the signs had only enticed some 33 voters to get out and vote.

Districtwide the problem was the same.

Seven minutes after the polls closed, Hebron Town Clerk Joan Clough was the first one reporting results to the Sun Journal. With 20 of 833 registered voters coming to the polls, counting the paper ballots went swiftly. A total of 18 voters cast yes ballots and two voted no in Hebron.

The larger towns didn’t fare much better.

In Norway, with its 3,300 registered voters, Town Clerk Shirley Boyce reported 59 turned out to vote yes and 14 voted no.

In Paris, where there are about 3,000 registered voters, 76 voted yes and 26 voted no, according to Town Clerk Anne Pastore.

Oxford, with its approximately 3,000 to 3,100 registered voters, 50 cast ballots yes and 15, no, Morrison said.

In West Paris, John White reported 28 yes votes and 12 no votes.

In Waterford 50 out of about 1,000 registered voters turned out. There were 41 votes in favor and nine against.

In Harrison, a total of 51 voted yes and 27 no, out of 1,700 registered voters.

Otisfield reported 67 yes votes and 11 no.