NEW GLOUCESTER – Voters in Gray and New Gloucester head to the polls Tuesday to consider SAD 15’s proposal to approve a $10.2 million bond to refurbish, renovate and bring up to code five district schools.
Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. in Newbegin Gym in Gray.
New Gloucester voters will cast ballots from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at AMVET Post 6 Hall on Route 100.
Of the $10 million bond, $8 million must be paid back by local taxpayers. However, if the bond is not approved, the school district will not get any state loan or grant to help pay for the project.
School officials say approval protects the district’s investment in its school facilities and resources that the entire community uses.
The bond makes it feasible for the district to maintain community schools at the elementary school level, which voters favored several years ago.
The community is not in favor of building one large elementary school.
Voters must approve the total bond of $10,268,907. That figure represents the total cost of demolition, renovations, new additions and meeting state and federally mandated health, safety and accessibility requirements in five schools.
Programming upgrades include renovating science labs at Gray-New Gloucester High School and other school upgrades that total $4,519,394.
Other upgrades at the high school total $1,655,393. The central office of the school will be relocated, and a cafeteria will be converted with a gymnasium into a cafetorium.
Gray-New Gloucester Middle school upgrades total $556,917.
In New Gloucester, the Dunn Elementary School’s portable classrooms will be replaced with a permanent addition for $676,000.
Russell Elementary School in Gray is earmarked to have $1,180,611 in construction upgrades.
And, Memorial School in New Gloucester will require $1,514,443 in renovation, demolition and mandated upgrades.
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