FARMINGTON — Construction is set to begin on the new $64 million Mt. Blue High School Learning Campus at the end of this month. The school board voted Tuesday to award the contract to a Portland company.

The contract with Wright-Ryan Construction Inc. will be for $42.6 million.

The scope of the work involves renovating nearly 89,000 square feet at the existing Mt. Blue High School and Foster Technology Center, and adding another 139,000 square feet of new construction.

Among the firm’s other projects was the new Cony High School that was completed ahead of schedule in 2006, according to the company’s website.

More than 90 percent of the cost of the new Mt. Blue school will be paid for by the Maine Department of Education.

Four companies submitted bids for the project and Wright-Ryan had the lowest bid, which was about $2.4 million under budget. PDT Architects of Portland, the firm designing the new school, worked in conjunction with the state’s Bureau of General Services to review the bids.

The project is scheduled to be completed in three years.

Superintendent Michael Cormier told board members that the favorable price will mean there will be enough money to fund about a dozen alternate projects that have an estimated cost of $740,000, which was included in Wright-Ryan’s bid price.

Cormier said there now will be sufficient funds for a fifth tennis court; additional bleachers in the gym; auditorium upgrades such as a better sound system; water, sewer and lights for outdoor concession stands at the playing fields; energy-efficient LED lights in the parking lots; durable granite, rather than asphalt, curbing; and $81,000 for model wind turbines that will be used as an instructional project in the school’s alternative energy course.

The $600,000 raised by the Mt. Blue Legacy capital campaign that concluded in August will also be available to provide “durable enhancements” to better equip classrooms, labs and performing arts spaces.

The renovated campus, when completed, will be a model in Maine for the way the new school will integrate career technical programs with traditional high school education. It will support adult education, Franklin County Community College courses and college classes, and will offer industry-specific training areas.

Cormier said he was very proud of the project.

“It is for our children, our future. The opportunities there will be spectacular,” he said.

Chairman of the Board Mark Prentiss praised the long hours Mt. Blue Principal Monique Poulin, Facilities Management Director David Leavitt, Foster Technology Director Glenn Kapiloff and Cormier have put into the project, along with the board’s Building Committee.