RSU 19 Voters Approve Construction of a New School

Middle and High School students from Regional School Union 19 are getting a brand new school, thanks to an overwhelmingly positive vote from local residents.

RSU 19 includes the towns of Corinna, Dixmont, Etna, Hartland, Newport, Palmyra, Plymouth, and St. Albans. Voters in those towns took to the polls yesterday to decide whether to approve a proposal that would build a new middle/high school in Newport, and close some of the region's elementary schools.

The proposal was approved with 2,102 votes in favor, and only 334 opposed. One key factor in getting the plan approved was the fact that it will be 100% funded by the state, and won't affect residents' tax bills.

In the plan, Newport will get a new building that will include both the middle and high school students. All the elementary schools in RSU 19 will be closed, except for the Etna-Dixmont School. Students from the closed schools will then be relocated to the current middle schools, which will be renovated.

It's good news for a school district that's still struggling with budget issues. WABI-TV reports that at the end of the last school year, RSU 19 was showing a deficit of about $750,000. The school board has been considering a plan to force employees to take unpaid days off, in order to make up for the shortfall.