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Voters overwhelmingly approve Mt. Blue High School project

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FARMINGTON – Residents of the Mt. Blue Regional School District overwhelmingly approved of an extensive renovation project for Mt. Blue High School, which is scheduled for completion in 2013.

Current, unofficial results, with all nine towns reporting, indicate that 766 votes have been cast in favor of the school project and 242 votes have been cast in opposition to the school project

The $63.5 million project will completely replace 37 percent of the existing Mt. Blue High School. The new school will grow to 226,000 square feet, 35.8 percent larger than the current school, with additional space set aside for new educational programs, state-of-the-art lab spaces and a series of alternative energy options. Driveways, athletic fields, parking lots will be moved and replaced.

More than 93 percent of the cost will be borne by the state. $3.5 million will be raised locally, paid back over a 20-year period. The district has estimated that a resident of the district owning a $100,000 piece of property would pay an additional $2.08 a month as a result of the project.

All nine towns of the district reporting: 
Chesterville, with 52 in favor of the project and 25 votes in opposition; 
Farmington, with 272 in favor of the project and 52 votes in opposition; 
Industry, with 65 in favor of the project and 26 votes in opposition; 
New Sharon, with 58 in favor of the project and 37 votes in opposition; 
New Vineyard, with 35 in favor of the project and 6 votes in opposition,
Temple, with 36 in favor of the project and 15 votes in opposition; 
Vienna, with 30 in favor of the project and 13 votes in opposition; 
Weld, with 23 in favor of the project and 15 votes in opposition;
Wilton, with 195 in favor of the project and 53 votes in opposition.


The proposed school and surrounding campus. Whittier Road and Seamon Road lie to the north, while the school and its three egresses can be found to the south. The track and six athletic fields are picture here, the seventh is to the south, beyond a wetland area, and out of picture.

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8 Comments

  1. Let’s see…..

    63.5 million for a new High School
    18.9 million for a new elementary school

    82.4 million dollars…….

    I thought we were in a resession?

  2. Though I don’t have kids here, I am an alumni. (eek, that sounds OLD) and I am glad to see that the voters approved this project. This school needed renovations YEARS ago. I’ve seen the plans, I feel that its reasonable. Obviously a lot of others do too. The voters have spoken!

  3. 93% of funds coming from the state!! Is that a code word for “Santa Claus”?? This is the trouble with the world today people! We are the state, remember? The building doesn’t teach a thing; let’s look at the quality of teachers first. Let’s all be like Obama and spend our way out of this recession; I’m sure that will work out for our Chinese speaking grandchildren!
    By the way, MSAD 9 can’t afford to send a schoolbus a mile up a paved road, causing children to walk that distance every day(yes, walking is good), but in the dead of winter most school districts would not do that. Glad to see priorities here. Also glad I’m Mt Abram alumni!

  4. the chance to vote during just a few hours one day…how fair is that to those working 40 miles away?

  5. Absentee ballots were available (I am unsure of how many people took advantage, though). I find voting to be so vitally important that I always vote absentee in case something unexpected arises.

    This is the State. We are the State. But, at least it will be in our community and not in the next community down on the State’s list of proposed school building projects. This is an exciting opportunity for the area. Get involved check it out, and most of all lend your support for educating the youth in this community!

  6. Susan, Sam doesn`t live in the real world. Town office is closed when I go to work and when I get home at night. This vote should have stayed open till at least 7 pm in each town.

  7. Yes the voters have spoken.

    But the next question is will a MAINE based company
    get the work?
    (at least keep the money local)

    I say the contract MUST be given to a Maine based company!
    And all subcontractors MUST be local!
    (we presently have many local people out of work)

  8. I absolutely agree with you, Jim. Every cent that can possibly go to local firms and local workers as a result of this project SHOULD stay local.

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