POLAND — Regional School Unit 16 directors adopted a wait and see approach Monday night in light of last week’s defeat of a $5.1 million bond referendum that would have upgraded the heating and ventilation systems to the district’s three elementary schools.

Superintendent Kenneth Healey’s report to the board raised the issue following the bond’s defeat a week earlier by a four-vote margin, 219 to 215. Initial reporting indicated a seven-vote loss, 219 to 212.

A broken plate in Minot Consolidated School’s boiler last September sparked a process that resulted in the board in March agreeing to send the $5.1 million bond referendum to voters after learning from consultants a similar calamity could occur at Elm Street School in Mechanic Falls and Poland Community School. The bond would have covered upgrades at all three schools.

Healey said he was disappointed with the vote outcome, noting there is now “no real answer” and a “kind of stalemate right now.”

The RSU 16 administration is planning for the worst and hoping for the best, Healey said, adding that an “emergency plan is being drafted” if the Minot school is shut down due to another heating crisis.

A section where the boiler cracked was replaced, but there are no guarantees on how long that could last or if another part of the boiler could crack.

Assistant Superintendent Amy Hediger said space in other schools in the district, including Poland Regional High School, will be made available for the elementary students if they are displaced.

An option that was not brought up to the school board earlier in the year was to replace just the boiler at the Minot school at an estimated cost of $1.1 million. One way to finance that could be through a purchase/lease agreement with a contractor at a fixed rate of interest over 20 years, which could be refinanced.

The option would only require approval by the school board, unlike a bond referendum.

Healey stated he was not in favor of the option, saying it was “politically fraught with problems.” He reminded the board that it received criticism from some residents for suggesting the bond, and said if the board pursued the purchase/lease agreement option it would “receive criticism for trying to resolve this thing internally.”

Healey told the board he was more in favor of increasing the district’s Capital Improvement Program substantially in order to adequately maintain the district’s facilities.

Jessica Smith, Mechanic Falls school board representative, said, “I’m not comfortable not doing anything.” However, ultimately no motion was made by any board member.

After discussion, board consensus was to see what the newly combined school/community member task force would advise come September. The task force was formed during public discussions about the proposed bond and it is tasked with exploring options that ensure “students have access to quality education, resources and facilities.”

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