WEST PARIS — The end has come for Agnes Gray Elementary School, with 91% of residents voting Wednesday to authorize Maine Administrative District 17’s directors to permanently close it.

The vote was 279 to close and 27 to reopen it.

Residents who voted in the morning and were willing to talk with the Advertiser Democrat said the cost to keep the school going was just too much for a small rural community to afford.

Based on 2023 costs, SAD 17 estimated West Paris taxpayers would pay more than $1 million annually to operate the school.

The district’s estimates to bring Agnes Gray into compliance with modern building codes, and carry out necessary repairs, falls between $4 million and $6 million.

Agnes Gray was closed by Superintendent Heather Manchester in February 2024 after Lavallee Brensigner Architects released a report showing that multiple life safety issues and long-deferred maintenance combined to make it unsafe for students and staff to occupy.

Lack of egress in most classrooms; a degraded roof; deteriorated steps, ramps and fire escapes; and boiler and plumbing systems beyond end-of-life were some of the more critical issues. Air quality testing also revealed unsafe conditions in some parts of the school.

West Paris launched a rigorous effort to save its elementary school going back to 2023 when SAD 17 announced that Maine Department of Education would likely support funding the construction of a consolidated school in the eight-town district, but not a small community school with a student population of around 100 students.

Agnes Gray had made DOE’s 2022 priority list of schools eligible for replacement. Of the 74 buildings on its list, Agnes Gray was listed at No. 6.

However, after reviewing architectural inspections of all SAD 17 elementary schools, DOE advised the district it favored a plan that would close three other schools, in Harrison, Norway and Waterford, and replace them with a consolidated school.

West Paris students would continue to attend Paris Elementary School permanently. Oxford Elementary, Otisfield Community and Hebron Station schools would continue to serve students in those towns.

The new school would be built in an area conducive to the towns of Harrison, Norway and Waterford, but also consolidate learning and services for students with special needs.

A districtwide referendum will take place in about a year on building the proposed new elementary school. If it passes, SAD 17 will apply to DOE to fund it. The construction cost is estimated to be at least $70 million, and most of it would be covered by the state.

SAD 17 owns the Agnes Gray property. If it decides to dispose of the property, West Paris will be given first refusal on acquiring it. If the town chooses not to take it, other charter or private school organizations will have the option to purchase it. If there are no takers, the district will be able to list it on the open real estate market.