NEWPORT, Maine — Residents from all eight of the towns that belong to Regional School Unit 19 overwhelmingly voted on Tuesday to accept $69 million in state funding to overhaul the district’s aging school buildings.
The final tally was 3,092 in favor and 334 opposed, with two ballots that were voided, interim superintendent Ray Freve said after the polls in the eight towns closed and the ballots were counted.
That money will allow the district to construct a building to house the district’s high school and middle school students, convert Sebasticook Valley and Somerset Valley middle schools into elementary schools and demolish several elementary schools that would be vacated.
Rep. Ken Fredette, a Newport Republican, weighed in on the matter once it appeared the referendum was sailing toward passage:
“I want to thank the people of RSU 19 who voted in the referendum. I believe this new school will be transformational for our community,” he said.
Freve said that the construction projects are slated to go out to bid this fall, after design work is completed.
RSU 19 is composed of the towns of Newport, Corinna, Dixmont, Etna, Hartland, Palmyra, Plymouth and St. Albans. The district spent about $400,000 shaping plans for the construction project.
Existing school buildings are in need of repairs and maintenance even without the approval of the state-funded construction project, costs that would have to be covered locally if the state money was not accepted, according to Freve. RSU 19’s proposed construction project also would be dropped down the state’s list of future projects, potentially delaying it for years.
Tuesday’s vote was a crucial one given the district’s budget woes. The district is considering furlough days in an effort to make up for a $295,000 revenue shortfall, which has forced it to reduce overtime and become delinquent on some bills. If voters had rejected the state construction funding, the $400,000 the district spent planning the project would add to the district’s shortfall.
Bangor Daily News writer Nick McCrea contributed to this report.