REGION — Oxford voters have approved all referendum questions for education budgets and building projects.
Results for Maine School Administrative District 17, Maine Vocational Region 11 and Oxford Hills and Nezinscot Region Adult Education budgets were 915 in favor and 382 opposed.
Oxford Hills also had three construction projects on the ballot. One was a bond question for improvements of security and Americans with Disabilities Act compliance to be done at Waterford Memorial School, Otisfield Community School and Harrison Elementary School, totaling $2,547,933. Funding of $2,338,832 will come through the State of Maine’s zero interest rate/loan forgiveness School Revolving Renovation Fund, and $209,101 will be raised through bond. With six towns reporting, the question passed with 915 for and 362 against.
The second construction project was to accept $890,000 in federal grant funds to build and equip a new classroom building at Roberts Farm Preserve in Norway. The new building will replace the aging mobile building, which has no bathroom facilities, that the district has utilized at the farm for more than a decade. That question passed with a vote of 976 – 371.
The third construction question was to construct a two-story class building for Oxford Hills Technical School’s plumbing, electrical and building trades programs, to be paid for with a federal grant of $2,085,261. Voters overwhelming approved accepting the grant, with 1,176 in favor and 196 opposed.
Three towns voted on opening school board director seats. In Norway, Curtis Cole was the lone candidate and received 188 votes. In Paris, Troy Ripley ran unopposed for a one-year seat and received 242 votes. Four candidates ran for two vacant seats. Christie Wessels retained the seat she was appointed to early in the year with 174 votes. Doreen Simmons won the second seat with 149 votes. Autumn Stan received 117 votes and Ron Ramsey received 103.
In Oxford, Gay De Hart ran unopposed for the seat she was appointed to in January and received 131 votes. Two other director seats drew no candidates, but former School Board Director Shauna Broyer received four write-in votes and Nathan Broyer also received four write-in votes.
Dana Dillingham was the sole candidate for his expiring selectman’s seat and was reelected with 150 votes.
In Harrison, six candidates vied for two positions on the Board of Selectmen. Matthew Frank will return, pulling 150 votes. Nathan Session will take the second seat after receiving 238 votes. Of the other candidates, Colleen Densmore received 138 votes, Michael Garvey 121, Debora Kane 97 and Brian Spaulding 38.
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