PARIS — Last month when Maine School Administrative District 17 announced a plan to present one school construction option that would end Oxford Hills’ tradition of independent community elementary schools, voters pushed back.

That proposal would close schools in West Paris, Waterford, Norway and Harrison while building a larger, centralized school in Norway to replace them.

Students in West Paris would attend Norway or Paris schools, Waterford’s children would all be sent to Norway and Harrison’s students would be split between schools in Norway, Oxford and Otisfield.

But with many, especially from West Paris, opposing consolidation, SAD 17’s school board voted March 25 to include a second option for public consideration — one that would maintain the status quo of smaller schools in each of SAD 17’s eight sending towns.

The next phase of school construction plans, which include replacing Agnes Gray Elementary School in West Paris and Oxford Hills Middle School in South Paris and Oxford, launches with a series of four public sessions focusing on what education should look like in Oxford Hills for the next 50 years.

The discussion now turns to two factors: Should SAD 17 take a path of elementary school consolidation, or continue community-based education for its children from prekindergarten through fifth grade?

The choices parallel a 2024-25 operating budget that will increase by 7.5% over the current year as the financial realities of maintaining older and inefficient buildings looms. The budget that taxpayers will vote on June 11 increases local shares to Oxford Hills towns by $3.35 million.

The choice is simple but complex: Consolidate with the promise of less local financial burden or retain education independence, which guarantees higher property taxes?

SAD 17 has scheduled four public meetings over the next two weeks to gather community feedback and input.

On Monday, the two construction committees and school board will host the first meeting at Oxford Elementary School, with a second taking place Tuesday at Agnes Gray’s gymnasium in West Paris. On May 7, a third will be held at Harrison Elementary School and the final meeting will be at Guy E. Rowe School in Norway.

Each meeting will run from 6-7:30 p.m.

Topics covered include summarizing the districtwide assessment conducted last summer and fall of its 11 school buildings; the priorities and goals set by the school board; and confronting the consequences of community autonomy versus consolidation of schools.

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