WATERFORD — Over the last year Oxford Hills communities like West Paris and Harrison have been rocked by potential school construction proposals that would consolidate many elementary students into a large, centrally located school.

West Paris has launched a lawsuit to stop Maine School Administrative District 17’s application to the Maine Department of Education to permanently close its school. In Harrison residents have formed a committee to explore alternatives that include seceding from the school district.

Waterford, the third small town that could see its elementary school closed, has made little noise and no counter efforts against the possibility.

But town leaders are considering how a consolidation might financially impact the community.

The Select Board reached out to SAD 17 late last year with a number of questions for Superintendent Heather Manchester to answer and requested she attend one of its business meetings.

Manchester attended the board’s Jan. 22 meeting, along with SAD 17 Finance Director Carrie Colley and Waterford’s two school board directors Judy Green and Kitty Winship.

For now, Waterford’s major concerns relate to future use of its school and costs.

SAD 17’s projected maintenance needs for Waterford Memorial School over the next 10 years currently stand at $3 million. With a consolidated school estimated to open by 2029, the Select Board asked for clarification about what maintenance would be completed over the next five years and at what cost.

Selectmen also questioned whether a pending renovation project to upgrade WMS’ front entrance to meet Americans with Disabilities Act requirements is included in SAD 17’s capital improvements plan.

The school is also listed as collateral in a deed filed a year ago with Oxford County Registry of Deeds.

“It appears as though the Waterford school was used as collateral for a Bank of America lien,” selectmen wrote to Manchester. “Will the Waterford school be returned to the town with a mortgage/lien/other encumbrances?  If so, what is the lien/collateral value/payoff to the Town of Waterford?”

According to state statute Title 20-A Education, Section §4103-Disposal or other use of real property closed for school purposes, SAD 17 could require the town(s) to pay the district any debt service, or require the receiving town(s) to pay the district a sum equal to the fair market value of the building.

In a scenario where WMS would close during fiscal year 2027, a debt of close to $410,000 would transfer with the building to the town and include phase 3 lighting retrofit cost of $3,500, a 2024 lighting project for $97,700, and $308,600 for ADA renovations.

“As a board we want to understand the process that would be followed, should the Waterford Elementary School no longer be needed,” Waterford Select Chairman Randy Lessard said in a statement to the Advertiser Democrat this week. “Our conversation with Superintendent Manchester was not about consolidation. It was focused on the building.”

The elementary schools in Waterford and Harrison have already been consolidated for years. Currently, children between pre-K through third grade all attend WMS and third-sixth grade students attend HES.

If Harrison eventually leaves SAD 17 and SAD 17 voters approve a school consolidation plan, the district will need to determine whether to keep WMS open for all Waterford students until a new school is built.