JEFFERSON -- Residents voted 92-0 in a straw poll Tuesday to build a new school at the site of the present one.

Dusty Nelson, principal of the Jefferson Village School, said he was pleased with the turnout.

"Even though it was 92 to nothing, there were well over 100 folks there last night," Nelson said Wednesday. "And I'm really pleased with that. It showed us the community does support our students."

Superintendent Frank Boynton said this is the first step to allow the project to move forward to the state, which could begin site-approval review in the next couple of weeks.

Boynton said the building is crowded and needs major upgrades, including new heating and electrical systems. The new building will have more than 45,000 square feet, as opposed to the 20,000-square-foot building that exists now.

"This is the first step in the process of building a new school," Boynton said. "It's just for the site. It's a matter of getting approval from the board, and then we'll take the next step and work on the concept."

The current school at 48 Washington Road is ranked 15th on the state's school-funding priority list.

Boynton said the details on the cost and design of the project haven't been calculated yet.

"We have some ideas on the concept of the building and we're programming that, but I really can't say what it's exactly going to look like."

Boynton said students would be taught in the existing school building during construction, which wouldn't begin for another two years.

The old school would be demolished when students move to the new building. The state would pay for the demolition of the old building, Boynton said.

"We're working to try and get a timetable," he said. "Once we get by the state board we'll put the timetable together on the concept with a referendum following."

The Jefferson school currently has 183 students in kindergarten through eighth grade.

Mechele Cooper -- 623-3811, Ext. 408

mcooper@centralmaine.com