DIXFIELD – Despite a low turnout Tuesday, SAD 21 voters in Canton, Carthage, Dixfield and Peru overwhelmingly favored building a new $14 million elementary school.
They also OK’d borrowing $150,000 to create a multipurpose athletic field.
“When you look at the big picture, it was a good turnout for a non-election referendum,” Superintendent Thomas Ward said Tuesday night from his home in Temple.
“I’m very pleased. A pre-K-to-fifth-grade school for the whole district will give us a tremendous shot in the arm. Now, we can go to closing (on properties to buy) and get that settled,” he added.
Article 2 asked voters to authorize SAD 21 directors to construct and equip a pre-kindergarten-to-grade-five elementary school on 35 acres off Route 108 in Peru.
It also sought authority to issue bonds or notes in the name of the district for school construction purposes in an amount not to exceed $13,892,035, and to accept a Maine High Performance Schools grant of up to $120,000 to be used for the project, and to buy land needed for the school.
It passed by a combined vote of 218-39. The breakdown was Canton, 37-3; Carthage, 20-6; Dixfield, 62-21; and Peru, 99-9.
Article 3 asked voters to OK spending up to $150,000 for a high-school size athletic field. Coupled with $81,778 in interest estimated at 5.23 percent, payments would total $231,778, or $11,588 annually for 20 years.
It passed by a total vote of 190-67. The breakdown was Canton, 32-8; Carthage, 14-12; Dixfield, 53-30; and Peru, 91-17.
Ward said the only holdup now is an American Indian dig.
“Legally, we had to do an archaeological study for Native American artifacts. I was told that they did a dig in the ’70s and found some artifacts, so this will slow us down a little,” he said.
“It’s always something, but things are going well,” he added.
Subcommittees are being established to get to work fine-tuning construction details. The school board meets at 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 19.
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