Agnes Gray Elementary School, West Paris, Valentine’s Day 2025. Lisa McCann/Advertiser Democrat
PARIS — Maine School Administrative District 17 is ready to take the final administrative steps to officially and permanently close Agnes Gray Elementary School in West Paris.
The school board voted Monday night to issue a warrant to the town of West Paris, calling for a public hearing and town referendum on closing the school to follow.
After Board Chairman Troy Ripley of Paris called for discussion on the matter, Superintendent Heather Manchester explained the next steps and timing to wrap up the process.
“To clarify,” Manchester said. “We’ve done all the background [on closing Agnes Gray] for the Department of Education and submitted the documentation including financials. West Paris has had their chance to review them and ask questions.”
A public hearing on the matter is scheduled for May 5 starting at 6 p.m., preceding the school board’s regular business meeting.
“That’s when anyone from West Paris can come and ask questions and discuss that,” she continued. “Then it will go to referendum for their town, which will be held May 14.”
If West Paris voters choose to keep the school open, it will be up to the town to fund the cost of operating the school and educating its students from preK through sixth grade.
Seventh through 12 grade students would continue to attend Oxford Hills Middle School and Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School.
SAD 17 estimates the cost to keep the school open would be $1,040,672.
Manchester closed Agnes Gray to students and staff last February after releasing an architectural inspection of the school that listed numerous life safety concerns and structural failures.
Students from West Paris now attend Paris Elementary School.
Last fall the towns of Paris and West Paris filed suit against SAD 17, asserting Manchester and the district had improperly closed the school.
However, after the district was able to demonstrate the school board had taken the proper steps before filing its intent with the Maine Department of Education to permanently close it, Paris eventually dropped the litigation.
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