RSU 51/MSAD 51 presents $53.5M new-school plan; residents object to district-paid ad and turf inclusion

Architects and consultants for RSU 51/MSAD 51 outlined the design, site changes and financing plan for a proposed new school and campus during a statutorily required public hearing.

The presentation described a northwest-campus school sited after acquisition of adjacent parcels, relocation of the maintenance facility, revised campus circulation, added parking and off-site road work on Main Street and Tuttle Road. The team described the campus turf field as a renovation within existing boundaries that would include new fencing and lighting. Architect remarks in the record identified the project as about 74,500 square feet of work on a 75,000-square-foot school campus footprint and stated: "The project budget of $53,492,000 includes all of this. There's nothing left out," a project presenter said during the presentation.

Why it matters: The referendum will determine whether the district can borrow to build the new school and related campus improvements. Voters will see the financing plan and the board stressed a multi-step public process continues if the referendum passes, including site-plan review and additional community meetings during design development.

Key details and timeline

- Scope: New elementary…