At a special meeting on July 25, the Gorham School Committee voted (5-1, Gagnon) to submit a request to the Town Council that a referendum question be placed on the November ballot in the amount of $20,025,955.80. The Town Council took up the request at their August 2 regular meeting where they set a public hearing for the item. It will be on the September agenda for a vote.

Six capital projects to be funded by bonds were included in the request, three at the Gorham High School (GHS). An estimated $8,790,917 would be used for eight modular classrooms, similar to those in use at Narragansett Elementary School, and for enlarging the cafeteria. One classroom would be used for adult education and another for mechanical systems; classes would be in the other six. These improvements would provide space for an approximately 150 additional GHS students. The new modular construction would be where the gravel parking lot is adjacent to existing modular classrooms.

The HVAC system at GHS would be replaced and air conditioning installed in the entire building at a cost of $4,299,464. Installing LED lighting throughout the building would cost an additional $423,214.80.

The School Committee is also requesting bond funding for Phase III of the Narragansett Modular Expansion which would cost $5,800,839. These additional six classrooms would be used for Pre-Kindergarten classes and for additional students from final redistricting of attendance zones, which is not expected for at least two years. Expenses for HVAC would be $393,921.

The final project, costing $317,600, would be replacing flooring at Village Elementary School, a project that has been postponed for several years.