The Scarborough Board of Education will decide whether to let the YMCA use the Bessey School before the end of the year, a move Y officials said fit into their timeline.

“I believe there is a way this can work for everybody,” said Gary O’Donnell, a member of the YMCA Steering Committee, which is working on bringing a YMCA to Scarborough.

In April, the YMCA identified the Bessey School site on Route 1 as the best possible location for the Scarborough facility and on Thursday night gave its first presentation to the school board.

The school district owns the school and 15 acres of surrounding land. The school board must vote to abandon the property and give it to the town. The Town Council then must vote to transfer the land to a new owner, which in this case will most likely involve a lease. The council seems in favor of allowing the YMCA to use the building, although it has not voted on the issue.

The YMCA has begun its fund-raising campaign, O’Donnell said. He expects that some 50 organizations and people will donate 80 percent of the building’s estimated $10 million to $15 million cost, depending on whether a 50-meter swimming pool is built.

But the lack of a firm commitment from the school board is having an impact on fund-raising efforts since the first thing most potential donors want to know is where the building will be located. In addition, knowing about the land will give the YMCA a clear understanding of how much money it needs to build the facility.

“I’d like to ask for it now,” O’Donnell said, referring to the board’s decision on releasing the property, but added October would be fine too. After he was told the decision would be made later than that, he said it would fit into the organization’s plans.

The reason for the board’s caution is due to the district’s future building plans to address the space shortage at the Middle School and building deficiencies at Wentworth.

“We are very pressured in our existing facilities,” said Chairman David Beneman. “As we see a growth in student population we need to address this.”

The district has hired an architect to investigate building options on the Wentworth and Middle School sites. The board will discuss the issue in October.

At this point there are three viable options, Beneman said. Two would require using the school’s current sites. The third possibility is dividing the intermediate school population and building a new school at the Bessey School site.

Board member Dianne Messer felt the idea of using the Bessey School site for a new school was unrealistic. She thinks if the district is going to build a second intermediate school it should be located in the Broadturn Road area.

“I don’t know why we can’t release this property now and get you on your major fund-raising,” she told O’Donnell.

Board member Chris Brownsey said the project seems to be popular with the community and questions the use of the Bessey School site for school purposes.

“I don’t envision the Bessey School being a great school site,” he said.

Outgoing board member Walter Hanson, who will be off the board by the time the vote is expected, said he also is in favor of the plan.

“I think it’s a great idea,” he said.

Board member Bob Mitchell said the issue of releasing the building should be sent to voters because it could have potential tax impacts if the district has to purchase property for school use.

Beneman asked the YMCA to provide the district with information regarding the possibility of pre- and after-school day care, the future for the property abutting Commerce Drive, and traffic impacts at Oak Hill.

O’Donnell said the YMCA wants to work with the district and coordinate its programming with work being done by the schools. He suggested that the school have a representative on the Y’s programming committee.

There are many benefits to the Bessey School site, according to Cyrus Hagge, chairman of the Cumberland County YMCA Board of Directors. It is close to the schools, the parcel is large enough for future expansion, there is access to a signalized intersection, and it is free.

The biggest drawback to the site is the fact that it is across Route 1 from the schools. While no definite plan has been developed to cross the street, Hagge indicated that a causeway could be built over the road or a crossing guard could stop traffic for a time after school to allow children to cross the street.

Housing Initiatives of New England, a company that builds and operates senior living complexes in Maine and New Hampshire, will renovate the Bessey School into senior housing units.

Cindy Taylor, president of Housing Initiatives, said 12 to 18 units could fit into the former school. Another building to the west of the Bessey School would be built, which would allow for the construction of another 30 to 50 units.

Taylor said if the organization receives a firm commitment from the school on the land then she would consider purchasing the neighboring vacant lot owned by KDA Properties, Kerry Anderson’s company, for possible use for another senior housing project.