Voters in the Oxford Hills school district on Tuesday overwhelmingly supported seeking a new state-funded middle school, with 5,241 voting for and 3,050 voting against.

The $88.1 million project is expected to be funded almost entirely by the Maine Department of Education.

The new school will house more than 700 students, with sixth grade transitioning from elementary locations to join seventh and eighth grades.

However, the majority of voters balked at funding any part of it from local taxes, namely picking up the cost for a Maine Principals’ Association regulation-sized gymnasium (Question 2)  and for stadium-style seating for an outdoor learning classroom (Question 3).

Those additional projects, estimated to cost $2.7 million to construct, do not qualify for state subsidy.

On Question 2: 4,277 voters said no and 3,985 said yes. On Question 3: 4,400 said no and 3,855 said yes.

The new OHMS, to be built on the site of the middle school on Pine Street, will include a “based-sized” gymnasium. It will not be large enough to host high school athletic competitions.

The school’s courtyard has been designated to accommodate outdoor education programming.

“We are incredibly appreciative of all the work and support that has gone into today’s vote to approve a new middle school for generations of Oxford Hills students, families and educators,” said Heather Manchester, superintendent of Maine School Administrative District 17.

The Maine Department of Education’s School Construction Committee voted two months ago to recommend the project be accepted by the Maine Board of Education.

With the referendum passed, SAD 17 will now apply to Maine Department of Education to fund the school, without the larger gym and outdoor classroom seating.

Construction is expected to begin in the spring of 2027 with building occupancy expected in the fall of 2028 and site completion in the fall of 2029.

“Support for our schools and an expectation of value go hand-in-hand in the Oxford Hills,” SAD 17 board Chair Troy Ripley of Paris said in a written statement. “Replacing an outdated and expensive middle school with a state-funded building is one of many steps the district is taking to keep the costs of a quality education within the means of local property tax payers.” 

Oxford Hills Middle School was established during the 1960s when SAD 17 was created. It was originally built as Paris High School.

Overcrowded conditions forced the district to split the middle school into two campuses 12 years ago. Since then, about 150 students have attended the South Campus on Madison Avenue in Oxford, and 350 are enrolled at the North Campus in Paris.